FONT OF REBIRTH. World Library Publications

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Gordon Quinn
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Table of Contents Altar Table... 1 Altar Stone... 2 Cross & Crucifix... 3 INRI... 4 Tabernacle... 5 Chalice & Host... 6 Presider s Chair... 7 Pulpit... 8 Vestments... 9 Sacred Vessels.

1 Table of Contents Altar Table... 1 Altar Stone... 2 Cross & Crucifix... 3 INRI... 4 Tabernacle... 5 Chalice & Host... 6 Presider s Chair... 7 Pulpit... 8 Vestments... 9 Sacred Vessels Liturgical Vessels Pyx Sacramentals Book of the Gospels Candles Paschal Candle Lavabo Baptismal Font Funeral Symbols Incense Holy Oils Baptismal Oils Stained Glass Window Rose Window Music Stations of the Cross Stations of the Cross Advent Wreath Poor Box Peacock Pelican... 31

2 FONT OF REBIRTH On Ash Wednesday our foreheads are marked with ashes and we enter the season of Lent, forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The early Christians fasted only a few days, or perhaps a week, before Easter. The time of Lent was fixed at forty days in the fourth century. The people who were to be baptized at Easter had to fast during their time of preparation. The idea of Lenten fasting probably came from this practice. The forty days might be a reminder of the forty days that Jesus fasted in the desert. In one of the prayers we say on Ash Wednesday we ask God to bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth. That font is the baptismal font and the waters of baptism. During Lent all of us who are already baptized walk with those who are about to be baptized. People in parishes around the world are preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil. Are there people in your parish who will be baptized this year? Do you know any of them? Remember to pray every day for all who will be baptized. Begin your journey to the font of rebirth by visiting the baptismal font in your church. Bless yourself with the holy water. Then finish this drawing so that it looks like your font. Ash Wednesday prayer excerpt from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, rev. ed., 2007 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), p

In the Church year, the season of Christmas ends and winter Ordinary Time begins by celebrating the baptism of Jesus. It is a good time to think about your own baptism, too.

At your baptism water was poured on your head, or perhaps your entire body was placed in the water of the baptismal font.

3 In the Church year, the season of Christmas ends and winter Ordinary Time begins by celebrating the baptism of Jesus. It is a good time to think about your own baptism, too. Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, in the waters of the River Jordan. Who baptized you? Ask someone in your family to tell you the name of the priest or deacon who baptized you. At your baptism water was poured on your head, or perhaps your entire body was placed in the water of the baptismal font. You were also anointed with the special oils used in this sacrament the oil of catechumens and chrism. Before the water was poured, you were anointed with the oil of catechumens on your chest. All the people present prayed that God would make you strong: We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior; may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. THE OIL OF SALVATION After the water was poured, you were anointed with chrism on the crown of your head: [God] now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life. The oil of catechumens is blessed olive oil. Chrism is blessed olive oil mixed with balsam to give it a sweet fragrance. Ask an adult to pour a little olive oil in a bowl. Dip your finger into the oil. Place your finger in the circle on this page. What kind of print does it make? Is it easy to remove? Rub the oil into your hands. How does it feel? Why do you think oil is a good sign for baptism? Excerpts from the English translation of the Rite of Baptism for Children, 87, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. 22

4 STAINED GLASS PICTURES A long time ago, very few people knew how to read, so they couldn t read the stories in the Bible. When cathedrals and churches were built, the windows were designed to tell some of these stories by using pieces of colored glass to create pictures. People who came to church could learn about Jesus by looking at the pictures in the stained glass windows, even if they couldn t read. Does your church have stained glass windows? Do you notice how beautiful they look when the sun shines through them? Do you have any favorite windows? Choose a window that you really like. Draw a picture of what you see in this space. When you get home, draw the picture of the church window on a piece of tracing paper or very thin white paper. Color it with crayons or markers. You can also cut up little pieces of colored tissue paper and glue them to the paper. Hang your picture on the window and see if it reminds you of the stained glass windows in church. 23

5 In Roman times, buildings often had a round opening in the wall called an oculus (the Latin word for eye ). Later, this opening was made into a window. About the year 1200, stained glass was used to fill the oculus, and the rose window was created. Does your church have a rose window? These large round windows are divided into sections that look like flower petals. Some are made of stained glass in simple patterns and designs. Others contain pictures of saints or scenes from the Bible. The center of the window usually contains a picture of Christ. The light shining through the beautiful colors of these windows can make you feel very peaceful and help you to pray. You can make a rose window for your room using this pattern. Trace the outline with a black marker or crayon. Cut out the inside spaces and fill them with different colored pieces of tissue paper or cellophane. You can also shave pieces of crayon between two pieces of waxed paper. With the help of an adult, place the waxed paper sandwich between two pieces of cloth and press it with a hot iron to melt the crayon. Cut the resulting stained glass into a circle and draw the pattern design on top of the waxed paper. Hang your rose window in an east window in your home. As the morning sun shines through your window say this part of the Morning Offering: O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day. ROSE WINDOW 24

Saint Mary First Eucharist Church Search

Saint Mary First Eucharist Church Search The Church will be set up for you to complete the booklet between: Monday, until Saturday,. The church is opened from 6:30 am until 7:00 pm. The booklet is to be