Celebrating the Holy Name of Jesus in January
In Art class, Resurrection Catholic School 2nd grade students learned about how St. Boniface used the Fir Tree as a symbol to teach others about Jesus. They got their inspiration from artist, Henri Matisse and learned how to cut symmetrical Christmas trees too!
We celebrate God every single day. However, the entire month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, which is celebrated on January 3rd. The first 12 days fall during the liturgical season of Christmas. In the first part of January, we rejoice Christ’s coming to Bethlehem. The remaining days are the beginning of what’s called the Ordinary Time. Polk County Catholic schools have the ways you can honor Christ this month.
Holy Father’s Intentions
In January, the Holy Father’s intentions for evangelization is through the promotion of world peace. We pray that not only for Catholics but other religions and all people to promote peace and justice in the world. The Apostleship Prayer can be used as a resource for your family prayers during this time.
12th Night Cake
The Twelfth Night is an old English custom called an Epiphany Party, where every guest must be a small gift and form a procession by laying the gifts under the tree. The party refreshment is called the 12th Night Cake, which is baked with three dried beans hidden in it. The child who gets the beans in their slice of cake wins a crown and is called the “12th-Night King.”
Directions: Start by creaming 2 ⅔ cup sugar and 1 cup shortening. Then add 1 ½ cups of milk with sifted dry ingredients, which includes 5 teaspoons of baking powder, 5 ½ cups of flour, and ½ teaspoon salt. Fold in 6 beaten egg whites and add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Bake in a three nine-inch greased layer tins at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Blessing Your Home
The blessing of your home for the Epiphany is a ceremony where an inscription of the three Magi initials — C, M, B — is placed above each door with blessed chalk. The initials represent the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which translates into “Christ bless this house.” It can be performed by either a priest of the father of the family. After the prayer of the blessing is recited, each room must be sprinkled with Epiphany water and incensed. The initials should be inscribed with blessed chalk.
At Polk County Catholic schools, we foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact the Office of Catholic Schools at the Diocese of Orlando by dialing 407-246-4800.