The Blessing of Classrooms

{"items":["301f1b_5b583b9d50a3459ca5c9ae6e65d33c2b~mv2_d_3036_4048_s_4_2.jpg","301f1b_eaebdb00538e4ac3b7cf04e6dce77f0f~mv2_d_3036_4048_s_4_2.jpg","301f1b_dbf4b75ff7c44436adbcdd169078ed0d~mv2_d_3036_4048_s_4_2.jpg","301f1b_2869a0ddd0e54f53bb407d8cd5711b41~mv2_d_3036_4048_s_4_2.jpg"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":false,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"fill","cubeRatio":1,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":300,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":5,"galleryMargin":0,"floatingImages":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":3,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCubeRatio":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":"3","numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":1,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":0,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"useCustomButton":false,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_HOVER","galleryHorizontalAlign":"center","galleryTextAlign":"center","galleryVerticalAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"link","fullscreen":false,"allowSocial":false,"allowDownload":false,"allowTitle":true,"allowDescription":false,"loveButton":false,"loveCounter":false,"videoPlay":"onClick","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","scrollDirection":0,"overlayAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowTitleExpand":true,"allowDescriptionExpand":true,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"APPEARS","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"AUTOMATIC","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":0,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":50,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"textsVerticalPadding":0,"textsHorizontalPadding":0,"titleDescriptionSpace":6,"customButtonText":"","customButtonBorderWidth":1,"customButtonBorderRadius":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"NO_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"galleryLayout":2,"gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":300,"allowHover":true,"mobileSwipeAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","gotStyleParams":true,"showVideoPlayButton":true,"modifiedGallerySize":true,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|fill|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":false,"externalInfoHeight":0,"externalInfoWidth":0},"container":{"galleryWidth":2570,"galleryHeight":1440,"scrollBase":0,"height":null,"width":null}}

Today Fr. Foppiano visited each of our our classrooms and offered a special blessing in honor of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. This tradition honors the Magi (the Three Wise Men) and their visit to meet Jesus of Nazareth. Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar are memorialized in this simple yet meaningful tradition where the calendar year and the initials of the Magi are inscribed upon the doors with blessed chalk: 20 + C + M + B + 18. It is interesting to note that the initials C-M-B are also interpreted from the Latin phrase - Christus mansionem benedicat - which means: "Christ bless this house".

As Fr. Foppiano concluded this special ceremony, he offered the following blessing:

Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this classroom and all who learn here and all who visit. May our students be blessed with a curious mind, the kindness of heart and a gentle spirit. Fill us with the Light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The light of our Catholic faith burns brightly in the classrooms and hallways of our charming schoolhouse.

We Are....ST. AGNES!