LiViNG FAITH Kids Daily Catholic Devotions January February March 2013 Volume 8 Number 1 Living Faith Kids provides a daily reflection based on a Scripture passage from the daily Mass. With Mass readings listed at the bottom of each devotion, this booklet helps children pray with the seasons of the Church Year and thereby grow in relation with Christ and his Church. Mark Neilsen Editor; Julia DiSalvo, Kasey Nugent Editorial Assistants Connie Clark, Kathy Finley, Steve Givens, Fr. Ken Grabner, Maureen Kavanaugh, Fr. Joe Kempf, Karla Manternach, Kathleen Muldoon, Caroline Pignat, Marge Schumer, Katie Suarez Contributing Writers Sally Beck Designer; Jim Burrows Cover and Interior art IMPRIMATUR Most Rev. Edward M. Rice Archdiocese of St. Louis 2013 by Creative Communications for the Parish Living Faith Kids is published quarterly in January, April, July and October by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Drive, Fenton, MO 63026, a subsidiary of Bayard, Inc., sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Subscription rates: 1 year, $13 (Canada $17); single copy, $3.75 (Canada $5.25). Periodicals postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Canadian GST# is 84231 1870RT. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Living Faith Kids, P.O. Box 292824, Kettering, OH 45429.
Welcome to LiViNG FAITH Daily Catholic Devotions Kids In this magazine, you will find Words from the Bible God speaks to us in Scripture. Living Faith Kids picks a short quote from one of the daily Mass readings to share. Daily devotions Daily prayer is a great way to build our relationship with God. The reflections in this booklet will help you pray each day with the Word of God. Saints, Seasons and More On holy days and special feasts, we add a little something extra often a puzzle or craft just for you. Enjoy!
Reading the Bible Our daily devotions begin with a passage from the Bible. Want to read more? The CITATION (sigh-tay-shun) will guide you to the reading in three easy steps: Book John 13:35 1: Book. The Bible is divided into books. Check your Bible for a list of titles. John 13:35 is from the Gospel of John. 2: Chapter. The first number is the chapter. Bibles usually show book and chapter at the top of each page. John 13:35 is in Chapter 13 of John s Gospel. Chapter Verse 3: Verse. Last are the verse number(s). Verses are usually a sentence or two long. The tiny numbers are hidden inside the text. John 13:35 is verse 35 of Chapter 13. Ready? Set? Go! Practice by looking up John 13:35.
January 1 Mary, the Holy Mother of God They made known the message that had been told them about this child And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Luke 2:17, 19 The Christmas story is great news. God is here to set us free and give us peace! Like any happy or exciting story, we want to share it with everyone. Before you start, take a tip from Mary. On Christmas, she spent time in prayer, soaking in all that was happening around her. She waited for her understanding to grow and made sure this day would always be in her memory. Mary, before I share God with others, teach me to open my own heart to him. 4 Numbers 6:22-27 Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:16-21
Wednesday January 2 Sts. Basil and Gregory Nazianzen Now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2:28 Many people in this world would turn you away from Jesus. They will tell you that his teachings are too hard to follow, that you should put yourself first, before all others, and take whatever you can get out of life. They believe that this world, this beautiful earth, is all there is. They cannot see beyond it to heaven. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who came into this world to guide us on the path to the Kingdom. When this world ends he will come back for those who have faithfully obeyed the commandments of his Father. Will you be ready when Jesus comes? Jesus, my Lord and my God, be my guide to heaven. 1 John 2:22-28 Psalm 98:1-4 John 1:19-28 5
Thursday January 3 The Most Holy Name of Jesus Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. Psalm 98:5-6 Some of the most beautiful music ever composed was written for Christmas, to celebrate the coming of Jesus, our Lord and newborn King. Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World are songs that you have sung since you were small. We sing these carols during Mass throughout the Christmas season, welcoming God s advent among us with great feeling and joy! My favorite words in a Christmas hymn go, He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteous and wonders of his love. What is your favorite Christmas carol? Sing it now to praise the Lord! 6 1 John 2:29 3:6 Psalm 98:1, 3-6 John 1:29-34
Friday January 4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 Before God created humans and the world as we know it, God created angels. Angels are powerful beings, pure and intelligent spirits. Like us, they are free to love God and obey God s laws or not. Devils are angels who turned away from God and try to get us to do the same. Jesus was born into this world to show us how God wants us to live, because the devil was leading many into darkness and sin. Jesus is the perfect model of righteousness (goodness). Jesus, I will try to be like you. 1 John 3:7-10 Psalm 98:1, 7-9 John 1:35-42 7
Saturday January 5 St. John Neumann Know that the Lord is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. Psalm 100:3 St. John Neumann knew that God was calling him to be a priest, to shepherd his people. When that became impossible in his homeland, John left home and came to the United States. Here he was ordained a Redemptorist priest and began to preach the gospel. After he was made the bishop of Philadelphia, John Neumann opened the first parish school in the nation. By the time he died, eight years later, he had established two hundred parish schools in Philadelphia! He is the first American bishop to be named a saint and the father of Catholic schools in the United States. St. John Neumann, help me to be a great student! 8 1 John 3:11-21 Psalm 100:1-5 John 1:43-51
Sunday January 6 The Epiphany of the Lord* See, darkness covers the earth But upon you the Lord shines Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Isaiah 60:2-3 Many traveled to Bethlehem on that first Christmas, but most didn t notice the baby born in a nearby stable: only a few shepherds and three foreign Magi. Still, Jesus light was so bright that by the time he died on the cross, crowds followed him wherever he went, and today there are Christians on every continent of the world. Where is God shedding light on your life today? *See pgs. 56-57 for an Epiphany activity. Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 9
Dear Father Joe, Mom said I should be thankful for what I ve got. What if I don t feel thankful? Sophie Dear Sophie, One summer, my job was to drive a tractor to clear fields. People had told me as they told you that it is important to be grateful. So I decided to spend the first fifteen minutes on the tractor each day practicing being grateful. As I cleared fields that first morning, I thanked God for everything I could think of: I even thanked God for things I had never thought to be thankful for before! When I was done thanking God for everything I could think of, I looked at my watch and only six minutes had passed. But, as the days went by I found more and more things to be grateful for, and the fifteen minutes went by in a blink. What I learned is that the more I prac- 10
tice being grateful, the more I will see how blessed I am. Whether or not I FEEL thankful, it is indeed important to CHOOSE to be grateful. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most important things anyone could ever do! One spiritual writer even said that, if the only prayer we ever said was Thank you it would be enough. For the more I practice being grateful, the more alive and joyful I will become. But it takes practice. My encouragement: Choose to be a grateful person. Practice seeing your blessings. And watch what a difference that will make in your life. In Christ, Fr. Joe Fr. Joe Kempf is pastor of Assumption Church in O Fallon, MO, author of children s videos and books and founder of Gospel Values, an organization dedicated to proclaiming the message of Jesus to all children. Visit him and his blue, furry helper, Big Al, at WeLoveBigAl.com. 11
Monday January 7 St. Raymond of Peñafort When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:12, 17 John, the man who baptized Jesus, called people to turn to God. When he was arrested, he couldn t preach as he had been doing. That is when Jesus stepped forward. He even used the same words as John: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It s interesting to think that Jesus might have been inspired by John that he might have wanted to carry on the work that John had begun. Who inspires you? Who makes you want to do good things for God? Father, thank you for the people in my life who help bring me closer to you! 12 1 John 3:22 4:6 Psalm 2:7-8, 10-12 Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Tuesday January 8 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 The verses right before this passage tell how Jesus has been teaching the people for some time. He s tired, so he gets on a boat and sails to a deserted place to rest. But when he arrives, the people have gone ahead of him on foot. They re waiting for him. Jesus could ve been irritated that they wouldn t leave him alone. Instead, he feels sorry for them. He sees how much they need him. So he teaches them again, then feeds them all. Lord Jesus, I need you too. Stay with me. 1 John 4:7-10 Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8 Mark 6:34-44 13
Wednesday January 9 No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 1 John 4:12, 16 Young children sometimes ask, Is God real? That can be a tricky question to answer. God is real, but they mean, Is God someone I can see and touch? Is there somewhere I can go to visit God? It can be a great help to tell them that God is real in the same way that love is real. Can you see love? Can you touch it or smell it? Of course not. But even young children know that love is real, because they feel it. They experience it. It s this way with God too. God, I believe that you are love. Help me to know you. 14 1 John 4:11-18 Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 Mark 6:45-52