Catechism L5-09 Preparing for our Savior & Our Savior is Born

 Prayer Before Studying

Incomprehensible Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge: vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit, quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the eternal salvation of our own souls.

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Holy Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies. You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.

Topic/Agenda:

1.      What is a Prophet?

2.      To explain the season of Advent & the need for preparation

3.      To explain Color Purple on Vest/Stole, Candles etc.

4.      To explain the Annunciation

5.      To explain the visitation and the Hail Mary

6.       To explain the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus in the stable, & the call of the shepherds

7.      To relate the stories of the Three Wise Men & King Herod, the Holy Innocents and the Flight into Egypt.

Question / Discussion Guide:

1.      Why did God send a Savior? -- To free us from original sin and give us the chance to go to heaven.  (Adam & Eve original sin up to the prophets)

2.      What is Advent? -- is a long preparation for the Savior's first coming, faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming.

3.      Who would be the savior? -- God's son, Jesus Christ

4.      Who are the prophets? -- messenger of God to speak to His chosen people.

5.      What did prophets tell to the people? -- To stop sinning and to get ready for the Savior.

6.      Why did God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus Christ? -- She was born without original sin; 

Problem after the fall of man:

• When Adam & Eve commits the original sin we have everyone lost the chance to go to Heaven and most specially direct communication to God.

• God spoke to His chosen people through holy men called prophets. How the prophets become the mediator between God and his chosen people. Samuel, Moses, Elijah etc.

2

What is a Prophet?

•God speaks to us through the prophets (Hosea 12:10).

•God reveals His plans to the prophets (Amos 3:7).

•How does God speak to His prophets? à Numbers 12:6, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream”

•Why did God send prophets? à To guide his people in the right way (2 Chronicles 24:19).

•God uses prophets to lead His people and to protect them (Hosea 12:13).

•Prophets are not necessarily popular or not popular because they speak what is right, not what is popular (Matthew 5:11-12; Isaiah 30:10).

•How can we recognize a true prophet? à Their predictions will occur as predicted (Jeremiah 28:9).

•Prophets stimulate the work of God (Ezra 6:14)

•We can expect prophets in the last days of earth’s history. Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.”

•God’s last day church will obey God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 12:17, 19:10).

•If there are true prophets, we can expect false prophets in the last days. Matthew 24:24, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

•We should test those who claim to be prophets. 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.“

•Beware of prophets who do not keep the laws of God, even if they perform miracles. (Matthew 7:22-23)

•Don’t listen to prophets that speak against the Bible. Isaiah 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Something to Ponder:

Why do you think it took a long time before Jesus came to Earth?

• Everything must be in place and in order (e.g. when cooking, projects)

• To prepare people for the immensity of the coming event (Emotionally & Psychologically)

 

 What is Advent?

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming".

Advent is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, which is the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 inclusive.

Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.

What are Messages of Gospels in Four Sundays of Advent?

• Third Week Sunday: John the Baptist ad

–A: Matthew “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” ==> Jesus Ministry began and as a proof to John’ disciples and He describe John the Baptist really to people

–B: John “There is one among you whom you do not recognize.” ==> John the Baptist Testimony to the light, the one coming after him.

–C: Luke “What should we do?” ==> John the Baptist advises people of different background (e.g. tax collectors, soldiers) and tells about the one coming after him.

• Fourth Week Sunday: John the Baptist ad

–A: Matthew “Jesus will be born of Mary, the betrothed of Joseph, a son of David.” ==> St. Joseph foster father of David found Mary with baby almost divorces her until the angel speaks to him.

–B: Luke “Behold, you will conceive in our womb and bear a son.” ==> the Annunciation

–C: Luke “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” ==>  The Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth

  Significance of Color Purple/Violet

 

In the liturgical year two seasons warrant wearing the color purple, Advent and Lent. During these two seasons Catholics are supposed to deepen their spiritual lives and attempt a more intimate relationship with God by practicing the virtue of humility and performing acts of penance in recompense for past sins. One of the ways the Catholic Church reminds its members to focus on humility and penance during Advent and Lent is to display the color purple within the church.

The color purple appears on vestments, linen and candles. During Advent and Lent, priests wear purple to remind members not only to practice humility and perform acts of penance, but that Jesus also practiced humility by becoming human and performed penance for the sins of humankind by dying on a cross. Purple linen is used during the Celebration of the Mass and to decorate the church during Advent and Lent. Purple drapes cover statues during Lent and on specific days will cover crucifixes as well as the tabernacle. Banners and other linen found in the church sanctuary will also be changed from green, used during ordinary time, to purple.

The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38)

26 When the sixth month came, God sent the angel Gabriel to a city of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 where a virgin dwelt, betrothed to a man of David’s lineage; his name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 Into her presence the angel came, and said, Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.[4] 29 She was much perplexed at hearing him speak so, and cast about in her mind, what she was to make of such a greeting. 30 Then the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; thou hast found favour in the sight of God. 31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; 33 his kingdom shall never have an end. 34 But Mary said to the angel, How can that be, since I have no knowledge of man? 35 And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon thee, and the power of the most High will overshadow thee. Thus this holy offspring of thine shall be known for the Son of God. 36 See, moreover, how it fares with thy cousin Elizabeth; she is old, yet she too has conceived a son; she who was reproached with barrenness is now in her sixth month, 37 to prove that nothing can be impossible with God. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word. And with that the angel left her.


The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-52)

 

39 In the days that followed, Mary rose up and went with all haste to a town of Juda, in the hill country 40 where Zachary dwelt; and there entering in she gave Elizabeth greeting. 41 No sooner had Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, than the child leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Ghost; 42 so that she cried out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 How have I deserved to be thus visited by the mother of my Lord? 44 Why, as soon as ever the voice of thy greeting sounded in my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed art thou for thy believing; the message that was brought to thee from the Lord shall have fulfillment. 46 And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord; 47 my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Saviour, 48 because he has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid. Behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed; 49 because he who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders. 50 He has mercy upon those who fear him, from generation to generation; 51 he has done valiantly with the strength of his arm, driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts; 52 he has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed. 54 He has protected his servant Israel, keeping his merciful design in remembrance, 55 according to the promise which he made to our forefathers, Abraham and his posterity for evermore.

Mary the mother of Jesus Christ:

• Mary always did what God wanted her to do -- by accepting Jesus' mother even though she still a virgin and not married yet.

• She never said no to God and she kept all His commandments -- by accepting Jesus as the savior and obeying Him.

Immaculate Conception

• that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain—that’s what "immaculate" means: without stain.

• Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.

• By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long (CCC 493).

• she was entirely a fit habitation for Christ, not because of the state of her body, but because of her original grace (Pope Pius IX)

• Angel of Fatima recited a prayer that testifies about her Immaculate Heart.

Perpetual Virginity -- Mary was ever virgin before Jesus was conceived and after Jesus was been born. We as catholic believed in this dogma. A note on the following...

–Matthew 1:25 -- 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

–Matthew 12:46 -- 46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him.

–Matthew 13:55-56 -- 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?”

–See also Mark 3:31-34; Luke 8:19-21; John 2:12; and Acts 1:14

• There was no full consensus on the doctrine of perpetual virginity within the early Church by the end of 2nd century until the document of Protoevangelium of James.

• Origen (185-254) was emphatic on the issue of the brothers of Jesus & stated that he believed them to have been the children of Joseph from a previous marriage.

• By 4th century, the doctrine of perpetual virginity had been well attested. 3rd century writings of Hippolytus of Rome who called Mary “the tabernacle exempt from defilement and corruption”, 4th century works of Athanasius, Epiphanius, Hilary, Didymus, Ambrose, Jerome, & Sirius contiued attestations of perpetual virginity – a trend that gathered pace in the next century.

• Early Reformers such as Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli supported that belief.

The Journey to Bethlehem & Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7):

1 It happened that a decree went out at this time from the emperor Augustus, enjoining that the whole world should be registered; 2 this register was the first one made during the time when Cyrinus was governor of Syria.[1] 3 All must go and give in their names, each in his own city; 4 and Joseph, being of David’s clan and family, came up from the town of Nazareth, in Galilee, to David’s city in Judaea, the city called Bethlehem, 5 to give in his name there. With him was his espoused wife Mary, who was then in her pregnancy; 6 and it was while they were still there that the time came for her delivery. 7 She brought forth a son, her first-born,[2] whom she wrapped in his swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

The Visitation of Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12):

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15):

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph[h] got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

The Massacre of Infants (Matthew 2:16-18):

16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men,[i] he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.[j] 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”


The Return from Egypt / Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23)

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph[k] got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”

 How do we celebrate the Advent & Christmas? 

•Confession

•Advent wreath -- arrangement of 4 candles and evergreen branches in the Church masses

•Traditions:

–Sheep going climbing up to the manger -- the sheep climb each step every time the person/student think they have been good/nice

–Putting straw on Jesus' crib -- if they do something nice they put a piece of straw to Jesus' crib making the bed softer.

–Simbang Gabi and Misa the Gallo

–Christmas Carols and Christmas Star Lanterns

–Get together with families and friends

–Giving, helping and forgiving

Points to Ponder:

• Should Christmas be "hard coded" or "written on stones or calendar“? – Roman Catholic (Western/Latin) celebrates Christmas by December 25 while Easter Catholic (Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Coptic) celebrates January 6.

–Why not celebrate Christmas everyday?

–Why not perform good deeds everyday as to celebrate the Lord's birthday?

• Everything must be in place and in order

–In food cooking, everything must be prepared: slicing, mixing, cooking and/or baking before we able to eat a very good meal.

–In life, we must undergo the same events just like our Lord Jesus Christ. From Paganism to Christianity, from struggle to glory, from water to fire, from birth to rebirth, from death to life.

–In this life, we should always be prepare for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• God will continue to find and create new prophets/saints whenever needed until all prophecies have come to pass -- Until the second coming of Jesus.

• New Prophets on the new generations are called Saints today.  People will continue to venerate these people and the same time will also continue to persecute them just what they did to Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Francis of Assisi

• Miracles from these saints will continue because they have the gifts of Holy Spirits.  Devotion to them has some benefits because they are closer to God. Exorcists use Saint’s relics to expel demons.

• The life and death of Jesus and Mary is full of mysteries. Revelation about God’s mysteries is a continual process it does not end in the Bible but the Bible is the foundation of all God’s mysteries.

Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today.  May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate.  Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.

References:

CCC 523:
St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare His way...

CCC 524:
When the Church celebrates the Liturgy of Advent...long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming.

CCC 1095:
For this reason the Church, especially during Advent and Lent and above all at the Easter Vigil, re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history... demands that catechist help the faithful to open themselves to this spiritual understanding of the economy of salvation as the Church's liturgy reveals it and enable us to live it.

Luke 1:11-17
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
The Birth of Jesus Foretold

 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”  35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38 (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition)
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.  31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.   32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.  33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.  34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?   35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: 37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.  38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

• Holy Bible (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)

• Catechism of the Catholic Church

• Wikipedia

• New Advent (www.newadvent.org)

• http://www.spiritualliving360.com/index.php/the-catholic-church-and-the-color-purple-2351/

• http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/prophets

• http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/the-immaculate-conception-8-things-to-know-and-share-.-#ixzz2pE1CAtHu

• CCCC