Showing posts with label Epiphany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Epiphany. Show all posts

Monday, January 1, 2024

January Radiant Roundup

Happy New Year, Friends! This marks the start of the third year of offering the Radiant Roundup, and I've been so grateful for the more practical organization method, opportunity to pull things out of the archives, and chance to share some new things in an easy & quick manner. If you haven't already subscribed, I send a brief monthly newsletter hitting the highlights for the coming month. You can sign up in the navy box to the right of this post. May God bless you richly in 2024!

Resources with a * mean that they contain free printables (or shareable digital files).


Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus: Feast Day January 3rd
Names of Jesus Mini Poster* 
The Significance of the Sign of the Cross Study*  (includes content on taking the Lord's Name in vain)


Mary, Mother of God: January 1st
Marian Ideas Collection* 

Epiphany: First Sunday after January 1st (traditionally January 6th, Observed January 7, 2024)
Epiphany Home Blessing Kit* (Includes updates for the next few years)
*Original Post updated to include Home Blessing Booklets in Spanish*
Gifts of the Magi Bible Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: January 4th
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mini Study (Google Classroom Assignment)

Ordinary Time is perfect for growing in the virtues!
Virtues & Saints Bible Study* 3 guides for the Theological Virtues
Virtues & Saints Bible Study* 4 guides for the Cardinal Virtues

St. Marianne Cope- January 23rd

Servant of God Antonio Inija: January 26th (date of martyrdom)
St. Thomas Aquinas: January 28th
St. Thomas Aquinas Mini Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)

St. John Bosco: January 31st
St. John Bosco Mini Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)

Catholic Schools Week: Begins on the last Sunday in January
Saint Pennants- Perfect decor for Catholic Schools Week*

Resources for a New Year:
Start the year off with weekly readings and reflections with my books!
Through the Year With Jesus

Traditional Catholic Monthly Devotions:
Monthly Devotion Calendar Signs*




You can find the links to the monthly Radiant Roundups here:

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Celebrating Epiphany

Epiphany, traditionally on the January 6th (the twelfth day of Christmas) is observed on January 8th this year.

At Mass on Epiphany we hear the story of the visit of the Magi. These Wise Men traveled far to worship Jesus and brought Him three gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold was for Jesus because He is the King of kings, the frankincense was because He is the great High Priest, and the myrrh was for the sacrifice He would make on the Cross.

The gifts of the Wise Men are one of the reasons that it is a tradition for family and friends to exchange gifts during the Christmas season. In some cultures, gifts are exchanged on Epiphany instead of Christmas Day.

It also is customary to bless your home on Epiphany, remembering the way that the Holy Family opened their dwelling place to these visitors. You can read the story of the Magi in Matthew 2:1–12.

Click here for the Celebrating Epiphany coloring page:


You may also like these Epiphany Activities:

Epiphany Home Blessing Kit* (updated through 2026)
My Gift: An Epiphany Readers' Theater*
Gifts of the Magi Google Classroom Assignment

You can read more about the connection between Epiphany and Christmas in All about Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Hope & Wonder with Children. These coloring pages were made in cooperation with Shari Van Vranken of Catholic Paper Goods using artwork from our new book!

You can find it at The St. Paul Center here or on Amazon here. 


And you can find all of the free resources linked in this post:
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Sunday, January 30, 2022

January Radiant Roundup: Resources for the Month!


Hello friends! I set a goal to offer some new organization on the dear old blog during 2022- While the search feature is handy and the Liturgical Year tab is helpful, sometimes you just need a month at a glance to see what feast days and celebrations and seasons and themes are coming up. After ten years of blogging, there is so much content here that I want to make sure we are not missing out on anything (And this will help me move some NEW resources out of my drafts folder too!) I got a little behind starting off in January, but still compiled this list for good measure and so that I can begin the monthly catalogue. I'll be back in a couple of days with the February Roundup and then hope to post them a week in advance so you can plan ahead. Happy New Year!

Resources with a * mean that they contain free printables (or shareable digital files).

Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus: Feast Day January 3rd
Names of Jesus Mini Poster* 

Mary, Mother of God: January 1st
Marian Ideas Collection* 

Epiphany: First Sunday after January 1st (traditionally January 6th)
Epiphany Home Blessing Kit*
Gifts of the Magi Bible Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: January 4th
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mini Study (Google Classroom Assignment)

Ordinary Time is perfect for growing in the virtues!
Virtues & Saints Bible Study* 3 guides for the Theological Virtues
Virtues & Saints Bible Study* 4 guides for the Cardinal Virtues

St. Thomas Aquinas: January 28th
St. Thomas Aquinas Mini Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)

St. John Bosco: January 31st
St. John Bosco Mini Study* (Google Classroom Assignment)


Resources for a New Year:
Start the year off with weekly readings and reflections with my books!
Through the Year With Jesus

Traditional Catholic Monthly Devotions:
Monthly Devotion Calendar Signs*



And I'll be back asap with February! 
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Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Epiphany Home Blessing Kits (Update for 2021 & Beyond!)

 

(Posting this a little early to give you time to share with your parish and school. You are welcome to email out the pdfs so that they can use them at home!)

"Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."  ~Matthew 2:2

After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the Holy Family was visited by three Magi from the east. They came to worship Christ and bring him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The Feast of Epiphany is celebrated on the 12th Day of Christmas, January 6th, but in the United States is moved to the Sunday between January 2nd-8th.  On Epiphany, it is traditional for families to bless their homes, remembering the hospitality of the Holy Family to the Wise Men and asking for protection and blessing on the home and all who enter.

The home blessing is done by writing on the door or door frame with chalk the symbols 20+C+M+B+21. The 20 and 21 represent the current year. The + reminds us of the cross on which our Savior died. The C, M, and B stand for the traditional names of the Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, as well as an abbreviation for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” which means “Christ bless this house.” Writing on the door also brings to mind the Passover of the Jews during the final plague in Exodus, when the blood of the lamb protected the inhabitants within. 



A few years ago, I wanted to send some resources home with my students and CCD families to help them celebrate this Epiphany Home Blessing Tradition.  Knowing that writing on the door or doorframe might not work in every house (or be every parent's favorite thing), I made these little signs that can hang over or near the door.  They are about 8" x 3.5" and are just made with scrap wood from my parents' barn.  I drilled holes in each corner, painted them with some left over chalkboard paint, and tied on some twine.

I added a small piece of white chalk and a booklet (printable below) explaining this Epiphany tradition, a short blessing prayer, and a few suggested Scripture passages and songs.  I packaged it all in a brown paper bag with the top folded down to form a "roof" and stapled on these cute tags (printable below).


If you'd like to share this tradition with your students, but don't have spare lumber, paint, and twine (or time...), you could easily send home your students with a kit including a black piece of cardstock, chalk, and the traditions booklet.  Or make it even easier and just tape the chalk right to the booklet and pass them out.  This would be a great way to share them out Mass- put a stack with the bulletins and then anyone who wants to can take one home. (Bonus points if you have a priest bless the chalk!)


“In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations." ~CCC 528

Click here for the Epiphany Tradition Booklet:
(I'm just going ahead and updating for a few years into the future, because someone is always looking for this before I get to it!)




Read more »
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Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Activities for Homes & Classrooms



The Solemnity of Christ the King and the end of the Liturgical Year is this weekend! But every end also means a new beginning, and this beginning brings Advent.  I LOVE Advent.  The preparing, the waiting, the hope, the peaceful promise.

Here are some ideas for you to use with your kiddos to keep and celebrate the season of Advent.  Click on any of the images to take you to the resource or post:


Looking for music to keep you in the season?  Check out this Advent Song Playlist:

And videos are always a great addition in the classroom:

Learn about the New Liturgical Year with this Liturgical Year Coloring Book:
And this Liturgical Year Calendar:

Make plans for decorating for the Liturgical Year:

Use these resources for Advent:

Use the stamps and printable stickers in my Etsy Shop:
All Digital orders 25% off until 12/1/18 with code BERADIANT25
and all physical orders ship with an extra sticker pack.

Try some new Advent Traditions:




Printable Advent Candles for an Advent Wreath:
http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com/2014/11/kids-advent-wreath-free-printables.html


What Advent Looks Like printable:

Wandering Wise Men: 
An alternate activity to Elf on the Shelf, I used the Wise Men from our classroom Nativity to emphasize the waiting and preparing and seeking that is required of us during Advent.  Click on the images to go to the posts with 15 different ideas.

   

Pray and color the O Antiphons:


Seeking our Savior: An Advent Detective Journey based on Scripture, showing how Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Christ.  Printable coloring book, Scripture cards, mini craft projects, and a leaders guide.


Make a Peg Doll Nativity:






 Advent Jeopardy Trivia games here and here.

 Party Like a Saint- A December-Saint-Themed Advent Party with crafts and games.

What if they had email?  Youth Group Advent lesson idea putting the Christmas story in a new perspective.

 A Stocking For Jesus: Activities to go along with the book, including some Advent printables.

Nativity Photo Booth, putting all of those Nativity play costumes and props to good use!
http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com/2013/12/nativity-photo-booth.html

Advent Prayer Ring- Great for Youth Groups or Bible Studies:
http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com/2012/12/advent-prayer-ring.html

My Gift- An Epiphany Readers' Theater:
http://looktohimandberadiant.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-gift-celebrating-epiphany.html

Make these Epiphany Home Blessing Kits:

How will you be keeping Advent this year?
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