New Rite of Blessing for Unborn Babies

Check out this article!  The Church has created a new rite of blessing for mothers and their unborn babies. http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/blog/blessing_of_a_child_in_the_womb?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+faithandfamilylive+%5BFaith+%26+Family+Live%21%5D&utm_content=Google+Reader#When:15:00:22Z

Confession available at Mom's group this week

Fr. Christopher will be hearing confessions in the library during mom's group this week.  This is set up to be a monthly occurrence with Fr. Christopher and Fr. Boniface alternating months.  It's a great Lenten activity/practice, as well.

Sunday Readings & Questions for Feb. 12

Hello all!

Here are the readings for this week: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021212.cfm

And the questions in part borrowed by our favorite men's group:

;)

• The first reading describes Jewish laws concerning lepers. In addition to the suffering caused by the disease of leprosy, why did declaring a leper as unclean and having him “dwell apart” from the community make his suffering even worse? What more can you do as Catholic men (mom's) to reach out to those who are sick and suffering?
• In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to be an imitator of him as he is of Christ, so that many “may be saved.” Why is the witness of our lives so important in drawing people to Christ and his Church? What are some areas of your life that may need to change so that others can see Christ in you in a clearer way?
• "He said to him, "See that you tell no one anything,
  but go, show yourself to the priest
  and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
  that will be proof for them."
  
  The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
  He spread the report abroad
  so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
  He remained outside in deserted places,
  and people kept coming to him from everywhere."
• 
  
• In the above passage from the gospel, the leper did not listen to what Jesus asked him to do, making it impossible for Jesus to "enter a town openly". No doubt it was difficult to keep such a heeling to himself, and maybe the leper thought he was doing good, but Christ had a reason for asking him to "tell no one." Have you experienced a time where you didn't do what Christ was asking you, so that you could "do good"? What were the consequences? And how do you choose?

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Another great read

Here's another post of encouragement for moms with babies and toddlers.  This lovely article is from a favorite author of mine who's had 9 babies and writes beautifully about her life and home.  If you're interested in more of her writing, her blog is In the Heart of My Home.  Enjoy!

Great read

I don't know if any of you have read Simcha Fisher's blog, but she's got a really great article right now - and while it's directed to moms of only one, it feels fitting for those of us with more than one, but they're still so little.  Check it out!

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/to-the-mother-with-only-one-child

Hopefully you all have been enjoying a wonderful snowy week!

Weather Cancellation for Jan 18th

Due to the weather forecast, Blessed Sacrament has canceled all activities except Mass for Wednesday.  This includes Mom's Group, so we'll see you next week!

Questions for Jan 11

1)      Our children call to us often.  How do we respond to them?  How do they give voice to God calling us?

2)      When do you listen to God?

3)      Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (Reading 2)

How is your body “a member of  Christ?”  What do you think the Scripture means when it says “you are not your own?”  How can we treat our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit within us?

Thanks to Erin and Rebekah for the questions this week.

Readings for this week

January 8, 2012 The Epiphany of the Lord
Reading 1 Is 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
 the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
 See, darkness covers the earth,
 and thick clouds cover the peoples;
 but upon you the LORD shines,
 and over you appears his glory.
 Nations shall walk by your light,
 and kings by your shining radiance.
 Raise your eyes and look about;
 they all gather and come to you:
 your sons come from afar,
 and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.


 Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
 your heart shall throb and overflow,
 for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
 the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
 Caravans of camels shall fill you,
 dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
 all from Sheba shall come
 bearing gold and frankincense,
 and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Reading 2 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
 You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace
 that was given to me for your benefit,
 namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
 It was not made known to people in other generations
 as it has now been revealed
 to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
 and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
 in the days of King Herod,
 behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
 We saw his star at its rising
 and have come to do him homage."
 When King Herod heard this,
 he was greatly troubled,
 and all Jerusalem with him.
 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
 He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,
 for thus it has been written through the prophet:
 And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
 are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
 since from you shall come a ruler,
 who is to shepherd my people Israel."
 Then Herod called the magi secretly
 and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.
 He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
 "Go and search diligently for the child.
 When you have found him, bring me word,
 that I too may go and do him homage."
 After their audience with the king they set out.
 And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
 until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
 They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
 and on entering the house
 they saw the child with Mary his mother.
 They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
 Then they opened their treasures
 and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
 they departed for their country by another way.
 
QUESTIONS:
1)      Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
 your heart shall throb and overflow, (Reading 1)
What makes you radiant?  What causes your heart to overflow?
2)      .the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
 and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Reading 2)
This caused a big stir in the early Church.  It was considered that Jesus came to save the Jews only.  What does it say to us in our day?  How can we put this into practice now?
3)      Herod was jealous of Jesus' kingship.  Have you experienced jealousy in your life?  As the person feeling jealousy or the person another was jealous of?  How did you handle it?


Thanks to Erin for sharing the readings and questions!