Feast Day Activities -- Week 3

This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. I found quite a few activities to post here, but please keep in mind that these are not exclusively Catholic activities. You may find that the bible verses will be slightly different. Most of the time it doesn't matter, but just keep your eyes open for anything I might have missed previewing the links.

A coloring page of John baptizing Jesus.
For children of all ages, here are several Dove crafts.
For older children, here is an online jigsaw puzzle.

Another coloring page.
And another.
And I really like this one.
Here is a simple crossword puzzle.

Here is a list of links to images of the Baptism of Our Lord -- an art history lesson.

Here are some Internet resources for discussing the Baptism with older children. I particularly like this one:

"Note that Jesus does not contradict John when he says, “I should be baptized by you!” In a very real way, John was right. However, Jesus only says, “Give in for now.” Jesus had a bigger plan in mind, and he was asking John to co-operate by laying aside his own way of thinking “for now.” Does God ever ask you to “give in” on smaller issues?" - Exploring the Sunday and Holy Day Readings - The Baptism of the Lord (Feast) from the William H. Sadlier, Inc. web site.


Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about the Baptism of Our Lord:

1223

All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan. After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

1224

Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son."

You may want to take some time on Sunday to talk about your children about their Baptisms. Bring out the photo albums and look at the pictures, and if you have their Baptismal gowns, take them out and reminisce about how tiny they were. For an older child's explanation of what Baptism provides for us, go here. And click at the bottom of the page, or here, to read what the Catechism says about our own Baptisms. And here are the vows that we make each year when we renew our Baptismal Promises at Easter.

My family is going to try a new recipe for Diples, otherwise known as Christ's Diapers. They are a Greek dessert in which you roll the dough to resemble the baby Jesus' swaddling clothes, fry it, and drizzle it with honey. Here is a simple recipe, but there are many more on the Net. Even though Our Lord was not baptized as an infant, since the Feast Day closes the Christmas Season, they are an appropriate treat.

Happy Feast Day, my friends.


Monday begins our Ordinary Time, which lasts until Ash Wednesday. If you missed last week's activities and the link to the Liturgical Calendar, go here.

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