Question 4 U: Was Jesus's last name Christ?

Thanks to Aidan from New Mexico!

Although it would make sense, Jesus did not go by Mr. Christ or sign His bank checks "Jesus Christ" (actually there were no "banks" like we have today nor did Jesus need a driver's license).

The word Christ comes from the Greek language.  The Greek translated the word "Messiah" from Hebrew [the Jewish language].  Messiah means "Anointed".  So basically Christ is a title given to Jesus because he was the Son of God who became a man. 

His first name, "Jesus", is important.  In the Old Testament, this guy named Isaiah predicted that the Savior should be named "Jesus" which means God saves.

So if  you put it together. Jesus Christ means "God Saves and Anoints."  Kind of cool, isn't it.  One day we'll piece together Jesus's family tree.  We won't need ancestry.com for this.

Saint 4 U: St. Lawrence

This saint's story is kind of gruesome.  Just a warning!

Back in the day when Christians were really bullied and killed, there was a guy named Lawrence.  He was a deacon [a deacon is like a manager of the night shift at Walmart.  He's in charge until the manager of the whole Walmart shows up] who helped feed hungry people and generally was a good guy.

The prefect of Rome [the mayor] was a pagan.  Now pagans are not Christians.  They sometimes believe in lots of different gods and not our true God.  The prefect thought the Christians had oodles of money like when someone wins the lottery.  But they didn't.  The money they had was spent buying food and other needs (not a DS or a car).

The prefect didn't believe Lawrence and sent him to die in an icky and gross sort of way.  Lawrence was roasted over fire like a piece of meat.  Now Lawrence didn't scream or pee on himself.  God was taking care of him.  Lawrence even joked and told the prefect to "turn me over--I'm done on this side."  What a prankster!!

Lawrence is considered a martyr.  A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs.  We are really, really lucky that so many people believed in Jesus and were ready to be killed for Jesus.  If these people were chicken and stopped believing, then we may not know what we know about Jesus.

St. Lawrence's feast day is today, August 10.  Don't forget to talk to him in prayer and tell him thanks for what he did.  His story makes me want to eat spinach and other veggies.

St. Lawrenceville holding bread and in the fire.

Question 4 U: What's a feast day?

Actually this question came from MC. 

I didn't know the difference between a feast day, memorial or a solemnity.  Good grief and I'm old so I should know this stuff, don't you think?  I've been Catholic all my life but it just goes to show that we can all learn something everyday.

Do I really look that old?

A feast day, as writing before, is not a day for you to go to McDonald's and eat all the Big Macs you can.  A memorial is not something that happens in May and you get to go to the beach or pool.

If you go to the back of your missalette [a missalette is that book in the pew at your church that has all the readings and parts of the Mass] in church (and not during Mass while the priest is talking), try to find daily Mass readings.  Or look up your favorite saint (MM's fave is St. Therese of Lisieux and MC's is St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), you may find a solemnity, feast or a memorial for different saints or important events.

St. Therese

 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Doesn't St. Elizabeth look like this famous picture of Whistler's Mom?

The difference between a solemnity, feast, and memorial:

• Solemnity - these are the days of greatest importance. The celebration starts the evening before the actual solemnity. Easter is our most important solemnity.
• Feast - these are the next most important days. They commemorate Mary, the apostles, martyrs and other saints, and the events associated with them. Mass readings often reflect the special feast day.
• Memorial - these are special days, but are often optional celebrations. The scripture readings for Mass may or may not be specially selected for the memorial.

Thanks to Coming Home Catholic for the answers!

So basically it goes
1.  Solemnity.  Very Ultra Important
2.  Feast:  Very Important
3.  Memorial:  Important

I think I'm going to learn the difference between the Lucky Charm marshmallows tomorrow.  I bet the moon is the best tasting!!!

Question 4 U: What is the difference between a cross and a crucifix?

Thanks to Nicholas from Maine in the USA for this question

Great question, Nicholas!  Let's look at the difference.

Can you spot the BIG difference?  We'll give you a hint.  It's not the color or the shape.  Come on, it's still summer but start those brain cells.  You're starting school soon so exercise your noggin.

If you said Jesus is one and not on the other, you are right. 

A cross is just what it says:  a cross.  Christian churches from around the world use the cross as a symbol of Jesus dying and rising from the dead.  There are oodles of different type of crosses.  Here are a few:

This is a High Cross from places like Ireland and Great Britain.

This is the Papal Cross.  Papal means belonging to the Pope.

St. Bridget's Cross.  It's sometimes made from reeds.

The crucifix is a cross with Jesus' corpus (or body in English) on it.  All Catholic churches have a crucifix in the building.

Many people will tell you that Catholics are just "crucifying Jesus again and again" by wearing a crucifix necklace or hanging one on your wall.  Of course, that is just plain silly talk.  Just like ginormus statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington DC or the Statue of Liberty, figures remind of the things in the past.  Jesus is certainly not getting crucified all the time.  Don't you think once is enough?  We look at the crucifix to remind us of the suffering and agony Jesus did for us.

Now your brain is all geared up and ready for school. :(