The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord officially ends Christmastide in Church celebrations.

ADORATION OF THE MAGI

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

The Magi who visited the Christ Child are surely a mystery beyond what we know from Sacred Scripture. Was there really just three or were there more? Where did they come from? Did they really follow a huge bright star in the sky and for how long?

Matthew 2 states: Magi came from the East to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and have to worship him."...And behold, the star that they had seen in the East went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star they rejoiced exceeding. And entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they worshipped him. And opening their treasure they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

For the Catholic answers to these questions, we invite you to visit NEW ADVENT.

For a fine article documenting evidence to the "star" and the Magi, visit the CATHOLIC EXCHANGE.  

And finally, a wonderful article from the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on CATHOLIC CULTURE.

Catholic Stewards of Creation believes the Magi to be the first stewards. They represented the whole world, come to adore Jesus, offering their time (travel), talents (they became missionaries in their own countries) and treasure (their kingly gifts).

We believe TODAY, just as 2,000+ years ago, we are ALL called to ADORE Jesus. Offering Him our unconditional, loving and responsible stewardship in working for the salvation of souls and caring for creation!

A FUN THOUGHT: If the wise man Balthazar was from Ethiopia, would it not have been possible that he arrived in Bethlehem aboard and Ethiopian elephant?

Nancy Murray author of the award winning book, The Night the Elephants Cried - A Story of the Tsunami, shared her recent letter to the Editor of the Tampa Bay Times regarding the actions taken by PETA protesting the way elephants are treated by the Ringling Brothers Circus. She believes that there is a right way and a wrong way to address the cruelty to performing animals.  

Here is her response. STOPPING RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS...THE RIGHT WAY.

NEW BEGINNINGS versus  

END OF THE WORLD

~by Susi Pittman

A beautiful new year or the end of the world? Seriously, it is all about your spiritual check list. New beginnings VS end of the world.

READ MORE...

Father was "moon-walking" and captured a great photo of a brightly lit night sky. His thoughts ran to the readings for the Feast of the Epiphany this week.

Quiet Time With Our Blessed Mother 

~by Sister Marie Rene, S.S.J.

From January 1st, the feast day of Mary, Mother of God, through the feast day of the Epiphany of the Lord, Sister Marie Rene finds her heart and prayers fervently with the Blessed Mother.

READ MORE...  

Looney Tunes Means Something Different to Me!

Frank has gone looney! And it's all about the feathers and the feet.

Mary reminds us that as Catholics, Christ-Mass is with us every day of the year!

Mary, Mother of the Church

~by Joseph Kaiser

Our resident theologian, Joe Kaiser speaks to the title Mary, Mother of the Church. "Mother of the Church" was formally bestowed on Mary by Pope Paul VI in 1964 at the conclusion of the third session of the Second Vatican Council. Do you know the biblical background that backs this up?

READ MORE...  

January's Recommended Reads: Fiction Writers of the West

Two great Catholic mystery writers of the great American West are the topic of Michele's reading and research this month. One was a former president of the Mystery Writers of America and whose last novel in 2006 was the Shape Shifter. The other, an expert historian on the Navajo people and winner of the Father John O'Malley and Vicky Holden Mystery Writers Awards. Who are they?

MARK your calendars for a   

STEWARDS RETREAT

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ENDANGERED LIFE ART EXHIBIT

by Rick Cannizzaro

This week we introduce our NEW AFFILIATE SHOPPING section. We hope to have a small but, well focused group of vendors that offer products in line with stewardship of the earth and its creatures. By visiting these product sites from our page, you are helping to support our mission.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

Kathryn Fincher

"Children, with their many discoveries and expressions, and their constant developmental changes in the very early years, are a wealth of visual stories...I fall in love time after time with the faces of my own children and those of family and friends."

"When I discovered that one little shadow or slight change of the angle in a child's mouth could change and entire expression, I was hooked," admits Fincher. "I'm not interested in painting unrealistic, perfect children sitting up straight with their knees together, but rather that moment when a child is consumed with studying something or on the brink of a new discovery."

Upon close observation, you will find inspiration in each of the artist's captivating images. Her children will touch you and give you the opportunity to return to that spirit of youth and innocence each of us so fondly remembers.

Kathryn Andrews Fincher resides near Atlanta with her husband, Jeff, and their two daughters.

Be WITH the POPE in CUBA 

March 24-29, 2012

COURAGEOUS, the Movie 

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ECO KIDS: Journey of a Wildlife Photographer 

Wasted Food

Americans waste as much as half of the food produced every year. In fact, between 160 and 295 billion pounds of food is thrown away each year -enough food to fill a 90,000 set football stadium every day.

FIND OUT MORE... 

SPOTCHECK

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually.

How would you like to use your mobile phone to receive a "mole diagnosis?"

A new APP for this is now available.

FIND OUT MORE...  

THUNDERSHOOTS: What are They?

They are sometimes known as jumping sun dogs and/or thundershoots. Ice crystals can act like little prisms, bending light when it passes through them (or they can act like mirrors, with light reflecting off their flat surfaces). When they float in the air you get all sorts of astounding and beautiful formations like sun dogs, halos, sun pillars, and more. These all depend on the angle between you, the Sun, and the orientation of the crystal in between.

This video is an amazing example of this phenomena!