Adult Faith Formation:

Deepening our Catholic Faith & Identity

Who were these Magi?

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (MT 2:2)

The Wise Men made but one appearance in Scripture but left a huge impact. Matthew's Gospel tells of their arrival in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus’ birth (Mt 2:1-12). They were seeking the newborn King of the Jews whose star they had seen in the East. King Herod learned that prophecies placed this King in Bethlehem where he told the Wise Men to go. Following the star, they found the Child and worshiped him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned by an angel, they chose not to reveal to Herod the Child’s location and instead traveled home by a different route.

Church Fathers saw Old Testament parallels in this event. Origen suggested that the Magi descended from the pagan prophet Balaam who predicted that "a star shall rise out of Jacob" (NM 24:17). Strangers who worship and bring gifts to the new King fulfill Messianic prophecies: "All they from Sheba shall come, bearing gold and frankincense, heralding the praises of the Lord." (ISA 60:6). These Magi were the first Gentiles to see the Light. They recognized what Herod and the Jewish priests could not: the newborn Savior. The wealthy, learned Magi of Matthew complement the poor, illiterate shepherds of Luke. Foreshadowing the Church’s universality, these Gentiles and Jews worship God Incarnate to show that salvation is offered to all people.1

1 Miesel, Sandra. Wise Men from the East. Ignatius Insight, January 2008. Web. www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2008/smiesel_epiphany_jan08.asp. Accessed 18 December 2019.

Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada St. NW, Washington, DC 20015 www.blessedsacramentdc.org

January 2020

20 + C + M + B + 20

deep

Into

the

“Virgin of the Angels” by Adolphe-William Bouguereau, 1881

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 53rd WORLD DAY OF PEACE

1 JANUARY 2020

(Excerpts)

1. Peace, a journey of hope in the face of obstacles and trial: “Peace is a great and precious value, the object of our hope and the aspiration of the… human family…Our hope for peace… makes it possible for the present… to be “lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of this goal, and if this goal is great enough to justify the effort of the journey”… Hope is thus the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward… We need to pursue a genuine fraternity based on our common origin from God and exercised in dialogue and mutual trust…Desire for peace lies deep within the human heart, and we should not resign ourselves to seeking anything less.” 2. Peace, a journey of listening based on memory, solidarity and fraternity: “The Hibakusha, the survivors of… Hiroshima and Nagasaki…are among those who… keep alive the flame of collective conscience, bearing witness …to the horror of what happened in August 1945…Like the Hibakusha, many …are working to ensure that future generations will preserve the memory of past events, not only… to prevent the same errors… but also to enable memory…to serve as the basis and inspiration for present and future decisions to promote peace… Memory is the horizon of hope…It can unleash new energies and kindle new hope in individuals and communities.” 3. Peace, a journey of reconciliation in fraternal communion: “The Bible, … reminds (us) of God’s covenant with humanity, which entails renouncing our desire to dominate

others and learning to see one another as…sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters…Only by choosing the path of respect can we …set out on the journey of hope…We are guided by the Gospel passage…“ ’Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?’ Jesus said...’seven times seventy’” (MT 18:21-22). When we learn to live in forgiveness, we grow in our capacity to become men and women of peace.” 4. Peace, a journey of ecological conver-sion: “If a mistaken understanding of our own principles … led us to justify mistreating nature, to exercise tyranny over creation… we were not faithful to the treasures of wisdom which we have been called to protect and preserve…We need to change the way we think and see things, … be more open to encountering others and accepting the gift of creation, which reflects the beauty and wisdom of its Creator.” 5. “We obtain all that we hope for”: “The journey of reconciliation calls for patience and trust. Peace will not be obtained unless it is hoped for… For the followers of Christ, this journey is …sustained by the sacrament of Reconciliation…It requires us to set aside every act of violence in thought, word and deed, whether against our neighbours or against God’s creation.”

“May the God of peace bless us and come to our aid. May Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace and Mother of all the peoples of the earth, accompany and sustain us at every step of our journey of reconciliation. And may all men and women who come into this world experience a life of peace and develop fully the promise of life and love dwelling in their heart.” From the Vatican, 8 December 2019

(http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2019.index.html)

Faith Formation Opportunities for Adults of All Ages

In this New Year, consider joining an adult faith formation small group!

(PCLL / ML = parish center lower level or main level; BSS=Blessed Sacrament School, gym or auditorium)

Tuesdays 8:45-10:30am Tue Morning Bible Study, PCML 8:45-11:00am Walking w/Purpose, PCLL 7:30-9:30pm Walking w/Purpose, BSS library

Wednesdays 8:45-11:00am BBB Bible Study, PCML 7:00-9:00pm Wed Evening Bible Stdy, BSS Aud

Thursdays 8:45-10:30am Thur Morning Study, PCLL 6:30-7:30pm NEW! “The Eucharist,” Bishop Barron DVD study, Thursdays in parish library (Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 & Feb 6, 13). Study guide only $12.00. For questions or to reserve your study guide, phone 202/449-3974.

Saturdays 6:30-8:00am That Man Is You, BSS gym For details: www.blessedsacramentdc.org/tmiy

____________________________

Save the Date for these Upcoming Adult Faith Events!

A Winter Symposium celebrating the 25th anniversary of St. Pope John Paul II’s

encyclical, Evangelium vitae. Coming in 2020. ____________________________

Adult Faith Formation will host a pilgrimage to this annual Pro-Life event.

For information, ph: 202/449-3974. ___________________________

Sacred Arts Forum

The next Art inFormation speaker series will focus on religious architecture,

iconography, sacred song and sacred “story.” Watch the bulletin.

___________________________

Women’s Lenten Morning Retreat Saturday, Feb 29th with author Melanie Rigney

at Blessed Sacrament parish

This newsletter is prepared by the Office of Adult Faith Formation, Tammy Flippo, Director. For information or questions, phone (202) 449-3974 or email: TFlippo@blessedsacramentdc.org.

“The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

(Above) The Annunciation (1489) by Sandro Botticelli. The archangel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary to deliver the news that she will give birth to the son of God.

(Left) Joseph’s Dream (1262) by T’oros Roslin. This artwork extended the range of manuscript illuminations by introducing a cycle of images into the gospels rather than only portraits of the evangelists. T’oros created this illustration under commission from the nephew of Constantine, a priest. (Below) The Annunciation to the Shepherds (c.1555-1560) by Jacopo Bassano. This work is on view in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in DC.

Life

The Gospel of

Tuesdays, February 2020

Christmas Story

Citizens of the pre-Renaissance and Renaissance era (5th to 15th centuries) were, for the most part, not literate. This situation compelled the Catholic Church and prominent wealthy merchants to commission numerous artists to convey in picture form the origins of Christianity —the Christmas story. Artists and craftsmen competed with one another to earn the Church’s lucrative contracts; an exercise that resulted in some of the most awe-inspiring masterpieces in Western art. Here, the Christmas story is retold in several of the most beautiful works of renowned Masters of this era.

(Above) The Nativity with Two Angels (c. 1490) by Filippino Lippi. High Renaissance art began to incorporate the tools of perspective to lend depth to compositions.

(Right) The Adoration of the Magi (c. 1440-1460) by Fra Angelico and Fra Filippo Lippi. This type of circular painting is called a ‘tondo’; a format often employed for devotional use. The shape prompts the viewer’s eye to travel around the image on a visual journey, in this particular piece, with the Wise Men such that by the time of arrival at the infant Child, the viewer is encouraged to worship alongside them. Of the two artists, Angelico began this work which was completed by Filippo after his death twenty years later. This work is also on display at the National Gallery of Art in DC.

Merry Christmas to all and

The as told in Sacred Art

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests…They name him

Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:1,5)

peace and joy in the New Year!