The Angel Gabriel greets Mary with a very respectful greeting used for royalty. The text doesn't say "Mary" after Hail but it is implied. Gabriel then proclaims Mary full of Grace which means full of God's own life and love.

Elizabeth is inspired by the Holy Spirit - she says Mary is the most blessed of all women. She knows the baby Mary growing inside of Mary is also blessed.

Mary is full of God's grace, which makes her holy.

Since God the Father, Jesus (God the Son) and God the Holy Spirit are all one in the Holy Trinity, that makes her the Mother of Jesus (but also God).

The Bible tells us to pray for one another. We ask Mary to pray for us just as we would ask friends and family to pray for us. We consider Mary our heavenly Mother.

What does it mean to be an American? We live in America, we are part of the American family.

What then does it mean to be Christian? We believe in Jesus as the Savior of the world. We follow Jesus, the Christ (did you know Christ was NOT Jesus' last name?). Christ means Messiah, savior.

As Catholics, we believe the Church that Jesus began all of those years ago is still alive today.

We believe in the Holy Trinity - three distinct persons in one GOD.

God, the Father, is what we call the FIRST PERSON.

God the Son is who?

JESUS

So we consider Jesus to be the SECOND PERSON of the Holy Trinity.

How did we "get" the Holy Spirit?

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us after he left earth.

Let's just recap what happens to Jesus Holy Week, Easter and beyond...

1) Jesus rides into town on a ..... DONKEY

2) People were VERY happy to see him

3) Jesus had a special meal with his friends - we call that the.... LAST SUPPER

4) Jesus was crucified on what day? GOOD FRIDAY (why is it GOOD? We'll learn in a minute)

5) What happened on Easter morning? JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD

6) Jesus spent some time on earth and then went up to Heaven

7) Jesus sent us a helper, the HOLY SPIRIT to be with us on earth and to help us make good choices and be good people.

We believe God has existed - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - since the beginning of time. We believe that God will live forever.

So as it was waaay back in the beginning, is how it is NOW and how it shall always be - all Glory goes to God.

God wants us to exist forever - part of the time on earth but the remainder of eternity with Him in heaven.

Some statistics on family dinners:

60 years ago, the average length of a family dinner was 90 minutes

Today - it is less than 12 minutes

With increasingly busy schedules, work requirements and other commitments, it is a challenge to eat together at least a few times a week. However, studies show children and teenagers who share family dinners three or more times per week:

*Are less likely to be overweight
*Are more likely to eat healthy food
*Perform better academically
*Are less likely to engage in risky behaviors
*Have better relationships with their parents

So, we always ask for God's blessing...

We are also asking for God to bless the food in front of us.

Why do you think we call the food "thy gifts" - or God's gifts? Did God give us the food?

Howe do we GET or obtain our food?

What does it mean... from thy bounty??

What is bounty (not just paper towel).

Bounty is abundance. Bounty is MUCH. God gives to us richly - in abundance and we need to be thankful for that.

Does that mean when we have a really good meal we really like we are thankful but maybe when we have a meal we do not like so much, it's okay to NOT be thankful?