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The Month of May – Dedicated to Honoring Our Blessed Mother |
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Catholics have always honored saints, especially the greatest saint of all—Mary, the Blessed Mother. Her faith and trust in God help us know how to live as God’s children. Mary is an integral part of Catholic life. She is an integral part of Scripture and liturgy. There are countless Marian prayers and devotions. Works of masterpiece art display the many aspects of Mary’s spiritual significance. She is the patroness of the United States. The entire month of May is dedicated to Mary. Devotions include May Crownings that date back to the 16th century. Pope Pius VII originally sanctioned this tradition. May Crownings include prayers, a procession, singing Marian hymns, and placing spring flowers on a statue of Our Lady. Even though the traditions of May Crownings go back centuries, many modern Catholics see spring flowers as reminders of Our Lady. Violets are symbols of Mary’s humility, lilies symbolize her purity, and roses symbolize her beauty. In fact, the rose is considered the queen of flowers. It is no surprise that Mary is sometimes identified as the Mystical Rose or the Queen of the Universe
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The Mysteries of the Rosary |
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As you pray each mystery meditate on the scripture that accompanies it. Visualize the story being told as you walk through the life of Jesus Christ with his Mother Mary.
The Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturday)
I. The Annunciation - Mary is told by the angel Gabriel that she is to be the Mother of God.
The angel said to her “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:30-32 a)
2. The Visitation - Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who rejoices in Mary being chosen to be the Mother of God. Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. (Luke 1:39-41a)
3. The Nativity - Jesus is born!
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:6-7)
4. The Presentation -The Infant Jesus is presented in the Temple.
When the time came for purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (Luke 2:22)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple - Jesus is lost for three days and is found by Mary and Joseph in the temple with the teachers listening and asking questions.
When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this?” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my father’s house?” (Luke 2:48-49)
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Introduction |
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The subject “Religion” is taught in all forms and everyone is encouraged to participate, regardless of their religious background, beliefs and practices. The central teachings focus around the Catholic Faith with all the norms and values associated with it, along with subject matter pertaining to other World Religions. All information shared is in conjunction with the teachings brought forth in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” which writings are also included in the school’s library and used as a reference source for the subject matter.
Courses taught in the various Forms are as follows:
- Forms 1: The Story of our Church
- Forms 2: Celebrating Sacraments
- Forms 3: Discovering God’s Word
- Forms 4: Growing in Christian Morality
- Forms 5: World Religions; A Voyage of Discovery
Other Reference Materials:
- The Catholic Youth Bible
- The Catechism of the Catholic Faith
- Various audio and visual material related to subject matter
The school curriculum also includes six (6) liturgies or “Masses” which are held in the Risen Christ Church in South Reward. These liturgies are spread out over various times and seasons within the school and Catholic Church year. All students are expected to attend and play an active role within these gatherings.
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Easter: The Church’s Season of New Life |
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Easter is a moveable feast. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring. This year  Easter falls on April 8. On Easter Sunday, churches around the world break into joyful song and sing, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” We fill our houses and lives with signs of joy and new life. Flowers and candles decorate our homes. Special foods such as Easter breads and colored eggs remind us that this is a life-giving feast. Throughout this day and for the next 50 days our celebration of the Easter season will continue until Pentecost. Throughout these 50 days, the paschal candle burns brightly at the side of the altar. The candle is a symbol of the Risen Body of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. During the rest of the liturgical year the candle is kept near the baptismal font. It will be lit during all baptisms. The newly baptized light their baptism candle from the paschal candle. During funerals the candle is placed near the casket. In other words, the light of Easter shines on all aspects of life.
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Lent: The Season of Spring for the Soul |
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Ash Wednesday officially begins the season of Lent; it ends at the Easter Vigil. This year Ash Wednesday is celebrated on February 17 and Easter will be celebrated on April 4. What is important about Lent is to fully enter into the penitential tone of the season and to be prepared for Easter. The Sundays of Lent do not require penitential observance. The reason for this custom is that the Sundays of Lent, like all of the  other Sundays during the entire liturgical year celebrate the Resurrection.
The ashes that are used on Ash Wednesday are usually obtained by burning palm branches that are left over from Palm Sunday of the previous year. When the priest applies ashes to our forehead, we hear the words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” The ashes on our forehead remind us of the Lenten call for penance and conversion.
The word “Lent” means spring. During the season of Lent the Holy Spirit calls us to leave our winter attitudes behind and to awaken to spring. Lent is a time to weed out bad habits and to plant, water, and allow good habits to grow. The meaning of spring urges us to finish our spiritual journey to Easter in a different place spiritually than we were on Ash Wednesday.
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