Faith and Family

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the year that has passed and the many blessings You have showered upon us. We beg your pardon in our many failings and trespasses. Make the new year a more fruitful and blessed one.

Beginning the New Year as a Family

As the new year begins and you start to plan all your resolutions and goals for the year, take some time to also think of a spiritual resolution for your family.

Here are a few ideas to help your family plan to grow closer to Christ this year.

A Spiritual Resolution

Some of the most common New Year's resolutions are exercising more, eating healthier, reading more books, and saving more money. These are all great goals, but there is an even better goal to strive for - growing closer to God.

If you've never tried it before, in addition to your other resolutions, try making a spiritual resolution this year. Even better, make one for the entire family. Each member of the family can create their own spiritual resolution, and you can have one BIG resolution for the family to do together.

One of the most common reasons people fail at their resolutions is because they don't have someone to help them or hold them accountable. The great thing about creating a resolution as a family is you can all help each other with your goals. Try something different this year:

Write the name of each family member on a piece of paper and then write your family name. Let each member write one or two spiritual resolutions and then choose one for the entire family. Post it on the fridge, or somewhere visible in your home so you'll be reminded each day. Then, every Sunday night at dinner, take down the list and discuss as a family how your resolutions went.

Here are a few ideas of some great spiritual resolutions you can consider:

  • Let the first thing you say each morning be a prayer to God
  • Go to Confession every month
  • Fast from something you enjoy every Friday
  • Donate money to the parish each week
  • Read from the Bible every day
  • Spend 10 minutes in prayer every single day
  • Get to Mass early and sit in prayerful silence
  • Keep a prayer journal where you write out your conversations with God
  • Invite one friend to Church every month
  • Tell God, "I love you" every day

Discuss as a family: How is God calling your family to get closer to Him?

Feast of The Epiphany Coloring Sheet

Download and print out this coloring sheet of the 3 Wise Men to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 8.

The Meaning of the Gifts:

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - these seem like strange gifts to give a newborn baby. There is a much deeper meaning to these gifts than simple birthday presents for Jesus.

  • Gold - Even though a baby, Jesus is royalty. He is the King of kings, and so it is fitting that he is given gold to honor his kingship.
  • Frankincense - Incense was always used when worshipping God, that is why we often use it at Mass. Jesus is given Frankincense because he is truly God.
  • Myrrh - An ointment used during burial, the gift of Myrrh points to the fact that ultimately Jesus would die to save us.

Listen carefully to the song, 'We Three Kings' and you can hear each of the Magi sing about the meaning of their gifts! Listen HERE.

Click Here to Download the Printable Coloring Sheet PDF File

Discuss as a family: What gifts can you as a family give to Jesus?

“What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.”

 

Hans Urs von Balthasar