1. | Dec 9, 2013

I so agree with Fr. Ray on this one.Frankincense seems to derive from the Old French "franc enecns".The dictionaries explain that incense is a gum resin from trees of the genus "Boswellia".Frankincense appears to mean incense of superior quality , "frank" meaning "the best".This seems to be because "frank" was and is used as an adjectival prefix to mean "fully free or completely free".At least, that is the best explanation I was able to find !

2. | Dec 4, 2013

Consider only giving your crdhilen 3 gifts for Christmas, a symbol of the 3 gifts the wise men gave baby Jesus. The wise men gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The first gift, Gold, is of great value. Give your kids something they really want, maybe something big. The second gift, frankincense, is spiritual- it was part of worship in the temple. Give your kids a present that will help them grow in their spiritual walk. The last gift, myrrh, was medicinal, for healing, for the body. Give your kids a present that cares for their body. Maybe clothes, shoes, body wash, a kitchen tool, vitamins. Be creative! I love this idea because it yet again brings back, even the gift giving, to Christ. For more info, check this out.