The story of Nehemiah is found within the book that is named after him. He lived in the 5th century BC, during the exile of the Jews in Persia. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, in the capital city of Susa. This was an important role at court that meant he had … Continue reading Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-20)
Category: Gothic Revival
12. The Magi arrive in Jerusalem
“After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of King Herod, wise men traveled from the east and arrived in Jerusalem, inquiring, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
11. Christ among the Doctors
“After three days they found him in the temple, where he was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)
4. The Feast of the Holy Innocents
“When Herod realized that the wise men had deceived him, he flew into a rage and issued an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old or less, in accordance with the information that he had obtained from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16)
2. The Feast of St Stephen
St Stephen spoke of the arrival of the Messiah, saying: “It was Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you, from your own people, a prophet like me.’” (Acts 7:37)
The Jesse Tree Advent Calendar & Printable
Here you'll find a free set of printable Jesse Tree ornaments, along with appropriate biblical reflections, to help you prepare for Christmas day-by-day.
St Timothy, the student of St Paul (Acts 16:1-4)
St Timothy was a younger co-worker and friend of St Paul. Two of the ‘Pastoral Epistles’ included in the New Testament, First and Second Timothy, are named after him. They contain personal advice from St Paul to the man he came to regard as his beloved and faithful son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2; … Continue reading St Timothy, the student of St Paul (Acts 16:1-4)
The Martyrdom of St Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3)
The story of St Stephen’s martyrdom is found with the Acts of the Apostles. St Stephen was one of the Church’s first deacons and also, the first Christian to die for the faith. He helped to convert many new disciples, but his death also led to a great persecution of the Church. The Book of … Continue reading The Martyrdom of St Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3)
The Holy Rosary for October
The Rosary is a popular Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary. It involves meditating on the life of Christ and his mother, as revealed in the New Testament, while reciting a series of prayers. Since the 7th of October is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, traditionally the month of October has been specially … Continue reading The Holy Rosary for October
The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
After being brutally whipped, the gospels say that Christ was victimised in the governor’s headquarters by a group of Roman soldiers. (Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20; John 19:2-5) This humiliation took place in front of the whole battalion. St Matthew’s gospel puts it this way: “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after … Continue reading The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)