Biblical Christmas and Easter

Christmas

It all started with a prophecy of Isaiah;

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

(Isaiah 9:6 ESV)

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33 ESV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." (John 1:14-18 ESV)

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Jesus, The Word of God Personified was born so that we may have forgiveness of sins. We celebrate Christmas on Dec 25th as a way to commemorate the birth of Christ, The Savior of The World! "He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." (Rev 19:13 ESV)

The Church officially in AD 354 using the date of Dec 25 as the day in which to celebrate the holiest of days the birth of Christ. It is unknown exactly what day Jesus was born and whether in winter or another season is debatable but according to the tradition handed down to us, we celebrate this holy day in the winter.

We also know that some Christians had been identifying December 25th as Jesus' birthday at least a century and a half before this time. Around A.D. 206, St. Hippolytus of Rome wrote in his Commentary on Daniel that: "The first coming of our Lord, that in the flesh, in which he was born at Bethlehem, took place eight days before the kalends of January." In ancient Roman time reckoning, the Kalends was the first day of the month, and if you count back eight days from January 1, you arrive on December 25.

Easter

As The Lamb of God Jesus lay down his life as the Sacrificial Lamb. As prophesied by John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"(John 1:29 ESV)

"So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:8-18 ESV)

"As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Matt 17:22-23 ESV)

It was a Friday the day of preparation of the Passover Holy Day in the Jewish calendar when Jesus was taken to be prepared that morning for his death before sunset the same day, he was placed in the tomb this same evening. Christian Easter is the fulfillment of the Jewish Passover, the day Jesus died for our sins. We see in the King James Version of the Bible Acts 12:4, that the term Easter is used for Passover.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,... (1 Cor 15:3-4 ESV)

And (1 Cor 15:12-28) "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all."

It is the hope of our own resurrection, and the celebration, commemoration of what Jesus has done for us why we celebrate Easter as Christians and believers in Christ! Like I said this Christian Easter is the fulfillment of the Passover celebrated by the Jews. Christianity is the continuation of Judaism thought Christ! There is literally hundreds of more scripture that I can quote but it is not for me to do your Bible reading for you. You really have to go from beginning to end, going through the prophecies in which Jesus fulfilled in himself, from his conception to his death.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phill 2:5-10 ESV)

In 325 CE the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the vernal equinox.

Why do I celebrate Christmas? Because I believe Jesus was born for us and died for us. I also believe what he says and that the Scriptures are His Word! Y'all can believe what you want but this is why I celebrate.

Thanks for reading!

You may also like! 

The Christmas Story

Is Easter Pagan 

The Season for Giving and Charity 

Thank you! 

check out my store for interesting stuff

Ten Tips for a Peace-Filled Advent

Advent is beginning and we must prepare for the coming of the Lord. This year Learn what Advent is all about. Peace, forgiveness, sacrifice and preparation for the birth of the Savior, and mercy.

"I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2 DR)

"For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6 DR)

The link below offers some great advice on how to have that this Advent.

Ten Tips for a Peace-Filled Advent

Also check out...

Best Advent Ever Rediscover Mercy by Matthew Kelly. I signed up :)

Advent: Reflecting on God's Presence (encore audio)

Some technical information about Advent

History of The Advent Wreath

Music for Advent: 10 Advent Songs to Remind You It's Not Yet Christmas

Previous blog Article: The Christmas Story

Have a blessed Advent!

God's Birthday

                                                 Christmas and God's Birthday

       Is December 25 really the true date of Christ's birth?

Was December 25 chosen to replace pagan celebrations like Saturnalia or Natalis Solis Invicti which means Birthday of the Unconquered Sun?

The answers to these and many other questions about the date of Christmas explained in this wonderful ebook called God's Birthday by Taylor R. Marshall. A must read for the holidays for any one who questions the date of Christ's birth!

I suggest that you get this book right away Taylor Marshall does an awesome job  in this book! Every year I read about Christmas and the debates over the date of December 25, but no one puts it into such common sense as Taylor.

This book is short it is an ebook, but it is packed with historical facts proving the date of December 25 for the birth of Christ. I also learned some other interesting dates in this book.

Did you know that Christ is believed to have died and been conceived on the same day March 25? I also learned that Saint Hyppolytus' in his works titles Chronicon the earth is said to be created on what is identified as March 25, 5500 B.C.!

There is one for the creationists :)

"Thus, March 25 was identified by the Church Fathers as the Creation date of the universe, as the date of the Annunciation and Incarnation of Christ, and also as the date of  the Death of Christ our Savior."

This makes 9 months earlier from March 25 exactly December 25!

Every year I am reminded about the many Christmas nay sayers out there who do not want to believe that Christ was born on December 25. These same people tend to shoot out all of the other myths concerning Christmas as well, for one reason or another.

I have found that there is more proof to support a December 25 birthday for our Lord than any other date. But, don't take my word for it. You can read the book and see the proof for your self.

I strongly encourage you to get this ebook by Taylor Marshall especially if you have any dought about the birthday of Christ. This book is also a must read for those who believe that December 25 is not really Christ's birthday.

Anyway, thank you Taylor Marshall for writing this book! Get God's Birthday ebook for FREE a limited time only! Just click the link and in the post there is a link to get the book.

Thanks for reading my post :)

Joanne Utke

Holy Day Season

Have a Happy Holy Day Season!  

    Christ's life is a mystery that we can begin to understand with the help of the Holy Spirit leading us through the scriptures with the eyes of faith. This Christmas lets continue to contemplate on Christ's life starting with his birth! The Catechism can help. Also read the Gospels especially the Nativity story. A great thing to do with the family this Christmas. I have a past post about The Christmas Story that takes a look at Christmas in Luke's Gospel please take a look.

Christmas is a season about giving and charity, but not just material things. Ultimately Christmas in about Christ. Christmas is about giving of yourself to others just like Christ did. Anyone can give a store bought gift, but does everyone always give of them self? After we have learned about the birth of the savior of the world and how to give of our self to others just as Christ did we go on to Lent when we can put all of this into practice.

Then we have Easter when we can learn about and contemplate on the death and resurrection of Christ. We are reminded about his life, death, and resurrection and can live it through the Church.. We should use this to again be Christ like giving of our self to others. I want to urge you every year to get out your bibles and don't just live through the Holy Days like everyone else, but read about it in Scriptures and then really live it as well.

I would have to say that the Christmas season is my favorite time of year. It is a great time to get together with family and friends. It is an even better time to share Christ with others which can give us a good start for the new year. God knows that we need a reminder to be Christ like and we need this reminder many times each and every year. I am constantly reminded of Christ and I contently live to imitate him in my life. I also always fail at this. 

Here is a Scripture that I have on my white board as I write this post; 

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2) 

In conclusion I hope that we can all be not just observers of the holidays, but active participants in mind, body and spirit. This is my goal anyway. I don't want to just do the holidays. I want to understand them and see Christ in them and do as Saint Paul says in the Ephesians verse "be imitators of God" and "walk in love." If we open our eyes to Christ we will see him everywhere and I think that is what he wants. I feel that this is how we can come to really know him.  

Please check out my The Christmas Story post as well as The Season for Giving and Charity. There is also some links to activity posts specific for the holidays.

I also did a nice post about Hanukkah if you would like to check it out. 

Thank you for reading!
Joanne

Isaiah 9:6 Merry Christmas

Every Day Is Special Holidays Around The Globe

    I wanted to do a post about a great blogger that I found. It is called Every Day Is Special, on this blog everyday is a new day to remember a new holiday, cultural tradition, someones birthday and much more. The authors of this blog does a great job at addressing several different interesting special days every day of the year. My children and I have had a great time reading the daily posts and learning about so many special days in our human history.

This is a great blog for anyone especially homeschooling/unschooling families alike. Make it a special event of your own and everyday read about the special things that are going on around the world for the given day. It helps me to do something with my kids that I have longed to do but kind of got out of. My plan was to share and learn with my children about all the major holidays that take place every month. For the most part we do, but this blog makes it a lot easier.

 I have to say this blog was a great idea and it is done very well I hope to enjoy it for a long time. I hope you can enjoy it with your family too :)

As always comments always appreciated :) Have a great day to your families success.

From Joanne

The Passover Holy Day

  This is Passover week of the Jewish holy day, Passover also called The Festival of Unleavened Bread. Pesach, of Passover, is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish religion. Passover usually takes place in March and or April, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It is a eight day celebration which is symbolic of when the Jewish people, led by Moses fled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Passover celebrates liberation and freedom from slavery.

Passover literally means that the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Israelite's who had marked there doors with the blood of a lamb so that the first born of every Jewish family would be saved. During Passover the Jews eat matzoh a flat unleavened bread to remember the hardships of their ancestors in the desert during their Exodus from Egypt.

On the first two days of Passover, Jewish people prepare a special meal called a seder, meaning "order". During the meal, certain foods are eaten and prayers are said in a particular order. To explain the historical and religious meaning of the holiday, the Haggadah (from the Hebrew word "to tell") is read. Within the Haggadah, there are stories, prayers, psalms and songs that describe the exodus. 

The seder is designed to hold children's interests especially. One of the ways children participate in the seder is by making a cup for the prophet Elijah. This cup is filled with wine and placed in the center of the table. According to tradition, during the dinner Elijah enters every house, sips the wine and heralds the coming of the Messiah.  
Malachi 3:23 or Malachi 4:5  "Behold, I will send you Eli'jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes."

The Institution of Passover:

Exodus chapter 12 which I have outline below is the institution of Passover as well as specific rules on how the Hebrews were to celebrate it. I will give you some verses to outline it all but I recommend that you go and read the entire Exodus 12 for yourself. This is also the perfect time of year to read the whole book of Exodus. Also see Deuteronomy 16:1-7 and Deuteronomy chapter 12.

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,"

"This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household;"

"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep or from the goats; and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 

Do not eat any of it raw or boiled with water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning, anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. 

It is the LORD's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 

"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses, for if any one eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 

On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly; no work shall be done on those days; but what every one must eat, that only may be prepared by you. And you shall observe the feast of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt: therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, and so until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 

For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for if any one eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread." Then Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Select lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover lamb. 

Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood which is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to slay the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to slay you. 

You shall observe this rite as an ordinance for you and for your sons for ever. And when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, `What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, `It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he slew the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" 

And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did."

It has been more than 3,000 years since the institution of the Passover and it is still the most important holy day for the Jewish population. Since the first century it has also become especially important to Christians marking the days of the holy week concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

"Holy Week is the week which precedes the great festival of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, and which consequently is used to commemorate the Passion of Christ, and the event which immediately led up to it."

I hope you liked my post here about Passover. I hope it helped you to understand what the holy day is all about. It is fun to learn about all of the many different cultures that make our world so great. I feel it is especially important for kids as well. 

Until next time Happy Passover!

If you want to get email updates on up and coming posts by Homeschooling Works then please subscribe with your email located on the right side bar of this site. You can also subscribe using Netvibes, Newsgator or Yahoo also located on the right side of this blog. Thanks in advance :)

Passover crafts for kids:

DLTK's Passover crafts for kids.

You may also be interested in:

Is Easter Pagan? by Homeschooling Works with special thanks to Jimmy Akin.


Jewish Holy Days:

The Hanukkah Story by Homeschooling Works.

Is Easter Pagan?

  I am sure you have heard from many different people and religious groups that Easter which is a Christian Holy Day is actually Pagan. In my opinion this is an attempt to Peganize Christianity and in some cases more specifically the Catholic Church. For Christians Easter is about the resurrection of Christ who died and rose again for the sins of the world and not bunnies or goddesses. My friend Jimmy Akin has done some research on the subject in his article titled Is Easter a Pagan Holiday? He has also done a great video on the subject you can see this below.

 

Is Easter a Pagan Holiday?

Q: Isn’t Easter a pagan rather than a Christian holiday, as shown by its very name by the fact that its date is determined by the full moon after the Spring equinox?

A: Anyone making this charge shows a total lack of comprehension of global Christianity. In fact, only a person speaking English or German could even possibly make this charge.

First, let’s deal with the date. Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon following March 21 (historically, the Spring equinox). The reason, however, has nothing to do with paganism. It has everything to do with Judaism and with Christ’s Resurrection.

Christ was resurrected on Sunday — the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1) — thus since the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 all Christians have celebrated his Resurrection on Sunday. Prior to that, most celebrated it on Sunday, but some, known as Quartodecimians (“Fourteenth-ers”) celebrated it on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, when Passover occurred. At First Nicaea all Christians agreed to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on first Sunday after 14 Nisan because that was the day Christ was Resurrected in the first century — the Sunday after Passover...

Continue reading...

I hope you have found the info helpful and I wish everyone a blessed Ester!

Saint Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone!


I love Saint Patrick's Day! He is one of my favorite saints. I love to learn about the saints. This time of year is a great time to learn about Saint Patrick. Read or listen to Saint Patrick's Confessions his life in his own words. Link at the bottom :)

History:

      Saint Patrick was ordained by St. Germanus, of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane.

One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands! They began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick by now had many disciples among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well). Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote about his life in his Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461. He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He explained that like the clover which is three leaves on one stem God is three persons in one God. It has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man. His love, devotion and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God.

Every year I love to listen to the audio recordings of the writings of Saint Patrick. I especially love his short bio titled Confessions. You can download the collected works of Saint Patrick audios for free at Librivox.org

Also check out!

Download Confessions by Saint Patrick pdf
More on the history of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick with some additional information

An Old Irish Blessing For You!

May the road rise up to meet you. 

May the wind always be at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

and rains fall soft upon your fields. 

And until we meet again, May God hold 

you in the palm of His hand.

ST. PATRICK'S PRAYER

        St. Patrick's prayer for the faithful captures the wonderful spirit that made him Ireland's patron saint, and one of the Church’s most beloved missionaries. Born in Britain shortly before the 5th century, St. Patrick, was taken captive to Ireland by raiders at the age of 16. 

In his Confessions he talks about how while on the ship of the raiders/pirates that captured him there was a harsh storm. The men said to him Christian why don't you ask your God to save us? Saint Patrick said to them if you submit to God and convert we will be saved. Long story short they all converted and submitted to the Christian God and safely landed on land.

He lived there for six years as a shepherd under harsh conditions and became intensely devoted to God in prayer, as he puts it, “because the spirit was then fervent within me.” Tradition has it that divine dreams inspired both his escape from captivity in Ireland and his return there later in his life as a bishop.

In this prayer he asks for God’s help in various ways:

May the Strength of God pilot us. 

May the Power of God preserve us.

May the Wisdom of God instruct us.

May the Hand of God protect us.

May the Way of God direct us.

May the Shield of God defend us.

May the Host of God guard us.

Against the snares of the evil ones.

Against temptations of the world 

May Christ be with us!

May Christ be before us!

May Christ be in us,

Christ be over all!

May Thy Salvation, Lord,

Always be ours,

This day, O Lord, and evermore. 

Amen.

     St. Patrick's prayer no doubt helped him in his missionary efforts. Although he faced his share of resistance, St. Patrick was so successful in preaching the gospel and organizing the Church in Ireland that he is largely credited with converting the Irish to Christianity.

His emblems are the snakes that legends claim he drove out of Ireland and the Shamrock he used to great effect to explain the Holy Trinity. (This is a wonderful illustration of three distinct entities, the three leaves of the clover, making up one shamrock, much like the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit constitute One God!)

St. Patrick's prayer for the faithful, much like the famous Breastplate prayer also attributed to him, can truly inspire us to ask for divine assistance in living our faith each day.

As Our Lord said in Matthew's gospel, if our requests are in accordance with His will, “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” Matthew (7:6). The “Strength of God” mentioned in the first line of this prayer should give us strength indeed!

Saint Patrick pray for us : )

By Joanne Utke

ourcatholicprayers.com

What Does Frankincense and Myrrh Look Like?

Cool info by Jimmy Akin. He has a really cool blog with tons of great info. I am learning from him every day.. Please check it out!

What Frankincense and Myrrh Look Like

Halloween

Halloween

   With Halloween closely approaching I wanted to post something about it here. This time of year especially, Halloween is cause for many questions from my children, and rightly so! They really don't like the scary stuff and we really don't either, although I understand it has it's place as Jimmy Akin is saying in the video below. Early on in my children's life we passed out candy on Halloween and the kids enjoyed dressing up as they do everyday of the year. Costumes and pretending is a huge part of growing up and playing, there is nothing wrong with that. Halloween is no exception!

I remember one Halloween, my oldest was three years old, and we were passing out candy together when we opened the door for my son to see his first "Scream Movie" mask. He screamed and ran away, the boy took it off and said "don't be scared I am just a kid" this made me think. How could a child who knew nothing of these scary images become so scared at his first reaction to it? I thought about how it was so natural to us as humans to get scared, especially when it is something that symbolizes evil.

How did my three year old son ignorant to evil and what evil is, become so scarred at his very first encounter? This told me that being frightened of evil and running away from it was a very natural human response. This is a good thing! After that we decided not to celebrate Halloween with negative images and I began to see Halloween for what it was actually designed to be about. We had already decided that our children would not go trick or treating, and that was a good choice for us.

I never thought it logical to tell my kids all year long not to take candy from strangers then once a year take them to all the strangers houses we could to ask for some candy. Trick or treating may fit into your logic, and that is OK, just please be safe. As a child I enjoyed trick or treating with no danger, and I survived! Like dressing up in costumes trick or treating isn't something that's inherently evil. Last year, we did take the kids around to close friend, and families houses. and will likely do some of that this year as well. My children today still don't like many of the scary images, and symbols that most people enjoy during this time of year.

Origins of The Word Halloween...

   Upon my research of Halloween I learned that the word Halloween itself does not refer to evil as much as it is about the Saints, and Souls in general. Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of its original title "All Hallows' Evening"), also known as All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows. Simply it means the eve of All Saints Day.

The three day Halloween celebration is referred to as the All Hallow Mass in reference to the eve of All Saints Day, All Saints Day on November 1st, and All Souls Day on Nov 2nd. In Websters Dictionary it is referred to as All Hallows Even and it is simply called the day before All Saints Day. The word Halloween was first used in the 16th century, and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows'-Even 'evening', that is, the night before All Hallows' Day. Although the phrase All Hallows' is found in Old English (ealra halgena mæssedæg; mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not seen until 1556.

So, what is it all about?

   Halloween reminds us of our own mortality and should be a time when we also remember those who have passed before us. On All Saints Day we remember those faithful Christian martyrs who in their earthly life suffered many things for the Christian faith, many of them dieing for the Faith. And remembering and honoring all of those who have passed on to be with Jesus in Heaven. All Souls Day is a day that the Church has set aside each year to commemorate and pray for all souls. Another popular name in English is Feast of All Souls. In some other languages the celebration, not necessarily on the same date, is known as Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos or de los Difuntos in Spanish-speaking countries; halottak napja in Hungary; Yom el Maouta in Lebanon, Israel and Syria).

We can ask the Saints to pray for us, which I make it a point to do. In return they Glorify God with their prayers on our behalf, right there in Heaven! Prayer especially the Catholic Mass being the most fundamental and powerful way that we worship and Glorify God. What a gift God has given us in the Saints! I encourage everyone to study the lives of the Saints, as an addition to your faith based reading.

Here are a few Scripture verses relevant to what I just said and that indicate our relationship to the Saints.

"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2 Mac 12:46 DR)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us." (Heb 12:1)

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:7-8)

"Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev 5:8) 

"And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand." (Rev 8:4)

On All Souls Day we are reminded of all the souls, even our own, many of whom really need us to pray for them!

What About Scary Images?

   One common image we see used for Halloween is ghosts as expected. Ghosts can serve as a reminder to us that Halloween (the eve of All Saints followed by All Souls Day) is about the dead. 

Things like Monsters and Witches are really just a part of folklore in pretty much any cultural tradition on the planet. Just as ghost stories are apart of sitting by a campfire. Also during Halloween the images of Zombies and bodily resurrection can remind us (although imperfectly) of the hope of Christian Resurrection. Although our Zombie stories, and images don't do it much justice!

It is up to the discretion of each individual what decorations they will use on Halloween and of course how they will be used. In our home we don't put up much decorations, but I do love ghosts and skeletons. Other popular Halloween items include pumpkins, Apple's, and anything fallish since Halloween is a fall celebration.


The Halloween Samhain link

   Halloween also falls on the same day as many popular harvest festivals of the past, like Samhain. Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the 'darker half' of the year. During winter they believed that the invisible world, and the physical world came together, causing many mischievous things, and some horrible things to happen to the people. They also believed that the sun god died in winter, and came back to life in spring.

In my research on Halloween, and other festivals of the same day, Halloween is a separate day to any other celebration, even if celebrated on the same day. Clearly a holiday being held on the same day as another does not constitute saying that they are the same celebration, unlike what many people may claim about Halloween, and Samhain. Just because a method of celebration, or an individual practice used in a celebration is similar, or the same even, to another holiday does not go to prove that one comes from the other, or a direct link. This still logically does not constitute the claim that one holiday originated in the other. There is just no proof that Halloween and Samhain are one and the same holiday.

Costumes, for example are used in many celebrations around the world such as the Jewish holiday of Purim.  We would not say that the Jews are celebrating Halloween when they celebrate Purim due to the fact that they participate in costume wearing. Likewise all costume parties aren't Halloween parties. We also would not associate one holiday with another just because it falls on the same day as another holiday. I really feel strongly that intention and purpose has everything to do with it. We still must be careful about the messages that we put out into the world that is why logic, and common sense must always come into play.

All through out history humans have thought alike, lived alike, believed many of the same things as people do today. This alone can account for the many similarities in many of our holiday celebrations, customs, and cultures. The fact that there are similarities is not enough to say that one originated in the other. I will say that Halloween has been hijacked by some groups who make up all sorts of reasons why they are celebrating it. Those who identify as witches and Satan worshippers may use Halloween as a day to do what ever it is they do, believing some how it's the devils birthday (as if he had one) or the Pagan festival of Samhain, or any other horrible spin someone wants to put on it. I will add without a shred of proof! In fact just believing that Haloween is satanic or the devils birthday is doing the Devil a favor.

So should we celebrate Halloween? If you want to. But now that you know what Halloween is really supposed to be about maybe you should try celebrating it at Mass this year for All Saints, and All Soul's Day. Spend the three day Halloween celebration thinking about those you love who have passed on who may need our prayers, and those who are in heaven praying for you!

My final thoughts

   When it comes to Halloween it is a matter of doing what feels comfortable to your family, and your beliefs. This may mean adapting Halloween to your families needs as I have done, or simple not celebrating at all, but that is up to each individual family. Many families enjoy dressing up like Saints or other non-scary characters. While others prefer scary or non religious themes.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I know it was a long time coming. I hope to continue to write interesting articles relevant to your life in the near future. I especially enjoy writing about the Christian Faith so you may see some of that in the future as well. Please check out the Bible Study tab on the top of this blog for more interesting topic.

For more awesome information about Halloween see Keep "Hallow" In Halloween and Halloween or Samhain.

Please enjoy the video below and please visit JimmyAkin.com. I have been a reader of this blog for a while now and am learning a lot, especially about the Catholic Faith. One thing I like about Jimmy's faith articles, and videos is that he has a great way of using logic and reason to faithfully explain and defend the Catholic Christian Faith.

 Are Scary Halloween Costumes Okay? This was posted by my Friend Jimmy Akin on his blog JimmyAkin.com

New Years Resolutions

     First off I want to say I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Although this is only the beginning of the calender year established by Cesar. The period of about 365¹/₄ solar days required for one revolution of the earth around the sun or a cycle in the Gregorian calendar of 365 or 366 days divided into 12 months beginning with January and ending with December.

We must be reminded that every moment is a new opportunity for change. 

For those who do not really know me, you should know that I do not make New Years resolutions. Instead I prefer to take the time to make the necessary changes, daily. I don't have to tell you that we all have somethings that we know we need to change or do better on. The beginning of the year is no exception!

Every moment we can decide to change or not, do good or not, make a wise choice or not. The fact is most people who make New Years resolutions don't keep them for very long, if at all, they always fail because for the most part it is being done for the wrong reasons.

If you want to change you will and it won't matter what day or hour it is. I wish you all health, happiness and truth, today and tomorrow just the same as I would any day of the year.

A few years ago I created this quote "Today I will be better than I was yesterday!" Every moment of every day is a chance for you and me to be better people, betters parents, spouses, children, and most importantly walking examples of Gods love and grace.

"Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48 and this applies to our lives every single day, every single second of it!

When it comes to setting goals you have to want it for the right reasons or you will never do it. Find your why and just make it happen! Don't talk about how you will do it, just do it. We will say more with our examples then with our words. Be a good example to others and that is the best gift you can give!

I hope all is well with you and your families!

Please read  This Is The Season For Giving and Charity!

Easy Ornament Crafts

   Make easy ornaments for Christmas this year! Give as a gift and make some for your self, kids love this stuff. We are going to do some of the these ideas this weekend. And you probably have most of the materials at home already. Instruction on the site so you can do the two in the pictures plus more....

Just click the picture.

Beaded Star Ornaments
Pipecleaner Snowflake Ornaments
Pipecleaner Christmas Tree Ornaments
Cinnamon Applesauce Dough, make a fragrant ornament
Baker's Clay (Simple Salt Dough) for making ornaments with cookie cutters or your own shapes
Craft Stick Sled
Craft Stick Star/Snowflake
Pinecone Bird Feeder
Cookie Cutter Clay Pottery Ornaments
Clay Pot Bells
 

This Is The Season For Giving and Charity!

  I wanted to post about charity, and giving of ourselves this season, and all year long. In the fall and winter months the giving spirit is on our hearts at least it should be. We can use this time to remind ourselves of the things we can do for others throughout the entire year, especially as we approach the new year. Thanksgiving was established as a national day of Thanksgiving, a time to Give thanks to God for all that he has given us especially the essential fall harvest which made all the difference to a people relying on the harvest to feed them in the dangerous winter season. It was then, and still is a time for Thanksgiving and also a time to make peace with those you may have hurt or just fighting with.  Many people choose this time of year to do charity work, usually with established organizations who distribute Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner to those in need. Which is a good thing, and anyone who is able should find the time at least once in a while to do something of this nature.

Time is not the only thing that we can donate to help others, many of us will give a few dollars here or there to those who are asking, in order to use it for a cause. It is nice when people get together and help those in need and I am happy that so many do help out! Still there is something that bothers me and I have seen it over and over again. It is all good as I said before to do what you can for others, but what about at home, your family? Charity begins in the home I am sure you have heard that before. While you are out doing for strangers is there a grandparent you haven't seen in a while or a parent you have neglected even just a little. Have you been fighting with a sibling, and have not made up yet. Is someone in your family in need of you, your support, your friendship even just for you to give a call and say hello.

Many of those who are quick to do for strangers I feel fall short when it comes to their very own family, so is it really giving? You know who you are. We are called to adhere to the golden rule, Do unto other as you would want them to do unto you! As you read this with a giving spirit think of your own family, is there a parent you never call or have not seen for a long time. What about a grandparent you only see every couple months or years or not ever at all, or a sibling you don't even call anymore. These people love you, and even though they to have made mistakes and don't always do what they should have done in the past they are your family none the less. I know we are not perfect and make mistakes we all do but isn't the time now to do more than we have been. Now is the time to forgive and forget. The past is gone, the future doesn't exist yet and all we have is right now to make the changes or at the least make steps toward change. Put all of your negative feelings aside, life is to short, remember the power of forgiveness, give a call and send that Christmas card this year!

We are all in this world together and we are all apart of everything around us and everything effects each of us. Never stop learning! Learn how to be a better you! That is what I strive to do every day sometimes I admit I fail miserably and other times I am proud of all the things I have allowed my self to learn from those mistakes. You will learn more from your failures then from your successes!  Here is a great thing to say as you start your day "Today I will be better then I was yesterday."  When you do better and become a better you it will affect everyone and everything around you!

If you like this you may also like;

The Christmas Story

Is Easter Pagan 

The Hanukkah Story 

Halloween 

The Passover Holy Day

Thanks for reading please share!

Joanne Utke

Halloween Coloring Pages

Halloween Coloring Pages

St. Patrick History

We love to celebrate St Patrick's day usually we make cookies, do crafts, and read about the life of St Patrick.

Saint Patrick was ordained by St. Germanus, the of Auxerre,
whom he had studied under for years.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick.

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message.

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well). Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

He died at Saul, where he had built the first church.

Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity,
and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

In His Footsteps: Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us.

He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

Saint Patrick Pray For Us!

For more on St Patrick's Day:
More Saint Patrick History

Happy St Patrick's Day!

St Patrick's Prayer.

St Patrick's Day Shamrock and Links to Color Pages for the Kids

Dr Martin Luther King Jr

The one thing I love is to learn and teach my children about the great people and events that impact our world in the past and today! One of those people is Dr Martin Luther King Jr, what a great Man Of Peace, we love to read about him and did that today.

This month we celebrate his and many others achievements in the Civil Rights Movement, giving black people the right to live free, as we all deserve! Born and Unborn I may add....

I especially love his message of peace, Dr Martin Luther King Jr taught that "We must meet hate with love" and "If pushed, do not push back, if struck do not strike back"

Martin Luther King Jr was born Jan 5, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. He loved to learn and quickly learned that he was just as good as anyone else and created for success! By the age of fifteen he attended college and by the age of eighteen following in his fathers footsteps he became an ordained minister on Feb 25, 1948.

By 1955 he was finished with his studies and was then called Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, that same year he lead the bus boycott in Montgomery Alabama 1955-1956, that event lead to a change in the law giving blacks the right to sit any ware they wanted on a bus, blacks could no longer legally be forced to give up their seats to white passengers.

Aug 28, 1963 Dr King gives his famous "I have a dream" speech in Washington D.C.

He said...

"I have a dream, that one day, in our nation, people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"

Dr Martin Luther King Jr won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, that same year the Civil Rights Act was passed and the next year the Voting Rights Act of 1965 protecting the rights of people from all races and religions.

Dr Martin Luther King Jr a great leader and man of peace and courage. This is a great topic to study in your home and teach to your children.

My thoughts, from the moment of conception we are created equal and good we deserve the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we deserve the right to laugh, love and play!

You are created for success!

Thanks for reading....

The Christmas Story!

Merry Christmas!

    Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of the Christ. The holiday was established officially by the Church in AD 354 using the date of Dec 25 as the day in which to celebrate the most holy of days the birth of Christ. It is unknown exactly what day Jesus was born and whether in winter or another season is debatable but according to tradition handed down to us we celebrate this holy day in the winter.

"We also know that some Christians had been identifying December 25th as Jesus' birthday at least a century and a half before this time. Around A.D. 206, St. Hippolytus of Rome wrote in his Commentary on Daniel that: "The first coming of our Lord, that in the flesh, in which he was born at Bethlehem, took place eight days before the kalends of January." In ancient Roman time reckoning, the kalends was the first day of the month, and if you count back eight days from January 1, you arrive at December 25."  (For more information read: 7 Top Myths About Christmas by Jimmy Akin Secret Info Club jimmyakin.com)

Taylor Marshall also has some wonderful insights into the day of Christmas in God's Birthday.

For Christians Christmas, which also bears the name of Christ is the beginning of Christianity, truth and pure love! The word Christmas in Middle English is Christemasse, from Old English Cristes mæsse, literally, Christ's mass. On this day we remember what God has done for us and how much he loves us, he has given us a son.

Isaiah 9:6 sums it up well for us...

"For there has been a child born to us there has been a son given to us and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulders and his name will be called wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father. Prince of Peace."

The Nativity Story

It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary his wife who was pregnant. She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were afraid. The angel said unto them, Fear not for I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

This shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. They went with haste, and found the babe lying in a manger and worshiped him, they brought him gifts fit for a King, Gold Frankincense and Myrrh.

When they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told to them concerning this child and all who heard it wondered at those things which were told to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart, and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

You can read the story from scripture in Luke 2 and Matt 1...

Gifts Fit For A King

GOLD: This carries obvious significance. It's precious and worthy across all cultures and times. It's a gift fit for royalty. It says to the Christ child, You will be a King!

FRANKINCENSE: Frankincense has been touted for its medicinal and soothing properties. Herbalists say it is calming, restorative, gently clarifying, and meditative. Frankincense oil is thought to have stimulating, toning, and warming properties. The ancient world used it for treating depression. We recognize the word incense in its name. Ancient people burned frankincense, believing it to carry their prayers to heaven. Its use as incense illustrates Christ's role as our Priest.

MYRRH: This is perhaps the most mysterious of the Gifts. It is a resin produced by a small, tough, scraggly tree that grows in semi-desert regions of North Africa and the Red Sea. Myrrh is an Arabic word for bitter, and it is considered a wound healer because of its strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Calling it mo yao, the Chinese used it for centuries to treat wounds, bruises and bleeding and to relieve painful swelling. The Egyptians made it famous in Biblical times, having acquired myrrh about the fifteenth century B.C. from Africa where cammiphora trees were abundant. It was used in incense, perfumes and holy ointments and also medicinally as recorded in the Ebers Papyrus. But its most notable use to them was that of an embalming material, used in Egyptian mummies. As an embalming ointment it signified that He was born to Die for the world. In fact, Myrrh was one of the burial spices of Jesus (John 19:39).

Christmas is a time when we can soon start the new year hopefully with a greater appreciation for each other. Christ teaches us about love and leads us to our family in heaven, and teaches us to love and respect our families on earth. With this I say please do not hold grudges towards one another, place problems in the past where they belong this is a new day and soon a new year. The past is gone, tomorrow does not exist yet, all we have is today, and this very moment, use it wisely, be grateful for all the things you have even if you feel it is not much!

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Also check out:

God's Birthday

Free Christmas Color Pages

Free Printable Winter Color Pages

The Hanukkah Story