On January 6 the Church celebrates the feast of "Epiphany."
This feast commemorates the mysterious visit of the magi to the Baby Jesus.
Who were the magi? What led them to visit Jesus? And what lessons should we--and shouldn't we!--learn from this incident?
Here are nine things you should know . . .
1. What does the word "Epiphany" mean?
"Epiphany" means "manifestation."
It comes from Greek roots that mean "to show, to display" (phainein) and "on, to" (epi-).
An epiphany is thus a time when something is shown, displayed, or manifested to an audience.
2. What is the feast of the Epiphany about?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.
In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.
The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations.
Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.
The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs”, and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”) [CCC 528].
3. When is Epiphany celebrated?
This varies from country to country.
In some countries, Epiphany is a holy day of obligation (Canon Can. 1246 §1). Where that is the case, it is celebrated on January 6th.
In the United States, Epiphany is not a holy day of obligation, and its celebration is transferred to the first Sunday after January 1st (source).
In 2013, it so happens that the first Sunday after January 1st is January 6th, so the U.S. celebration of Epiphany will coincide with its universal celebration.
4. Why is Epiphany connected with January 6th?
Pope Benedict explains:
It is hard to say how far back the beginnings of the Christmas feast go. It assumed its definitive form in the third century.
At about the same time the feast of the Epiphany emerged in the East on January 6 and the feast of Christmas in the West on December 25.
The two feasts had different emphases because of the different religious and cultural contexts in which they arose, but essentially their meaning was the same: the celebration of the birth of Christ as the dawning of the new light, the true sun, of history [The Spirit of the Liturgy
Eventually, however, the emphasis on January 6 shifted--particularly in the west (and in some parts of the east)--to reflect manifestations of Christ beside that which occurred at his birth (namely, those that occurred at the coming of the magi, at his baptism, and at the wedding feast of Cana).
This year the baptism of the Lord is also celebrated the first Sunday after Epiphany (Jan. 13), and the wedding at Cana is celebrated on the Sunday after that (Jan. 20).
5. Who were the Magi?
Pope Benedict explains:
In the relevant sources, the concept of Magi (mágoi) encompasses a wide range of meanings, from the wholly positive to the wholly negative.
To the first of the four principal meanings, Magi are understood to be members of the Persian priestly caste.
In Hellenistic culture they were regarded as “rulers of a distinctive religion,” but at the same time their religious ideas were thought to be “strongly influenced by philosophy,” so that the Greek philosophers have often been portrayed as their pupils (cf. Delling, “mágos,” p. 356).
No doubt this view contains some not easily definable element of truth: after all, Aristotle himself spoke of the philosophical work of the Magi (cf. ibid., p. 357).
The other meanings listed by Gerhard Delling are as follows: possessors and users of supernatural knowledge and ability, magicians, and finally deceivers and seducers. . . .
For the Magi in Mt 2, it is the first of the four meanings that applies, at least in a broad sense. Even if they were not exactly members of the Persian priesthood, they were nevertheless custodians of religious and philosophical knowledge that had developed in that area and continued to be cultivated there [Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
6. Why did the magi come to see Jesus?
They apparently had material of a prophetic nature (some have suggested that they got it from an eastern Jewish community, such as the one in Babylon) that allowed them to identify the birth of the new "king of the Jews" astronomically.
They may have been especially motivated to come see this king of the Jews since there was an expectation at the time that a universal ruler would shortly come from Israel. Pope Benedict explains:
We know from [the Roman historians] Tacitus and Suetonius that speculation was rife at the time that the ruler of the world would emerge from Judah—an expectation that [the Jewish historian] Flavius Josephus applied to [the Roman emperor] Vespasian, consequently finding his way into the latter’s favor (cf. De Bello Judaico iii, 399–408) [Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
7. Why did they go to Herod?
Probably, because they assumed the newborn king would be a son of Herod--the current "king of the Jews." Pope Benedict comments:
It is quite natural that their search for the newborn king of the Jews should take them to Israel’s royal city and to the king’s palace. That, surely, is where the future king must have been born [Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
This, of course, played into Herod's paranoia for his throne and led to the slaughter of the innocents.
Click here for more information on all that.
8. What was the star?
It is hard to know. Some question whether the star was a natural phenomenon at all, pointing out that it seems to lead the magi to Jerusalem, disappear, and then reappear and hover over the house in Bethlehem.
But this isn't what Matthew says. He does not say that the star led them to Jerusalem. They merely report that they had seen the new king's star "in the east" (Mt. 2:2; that is, back in their homeland), which is why they came to Jerusalem.
What he does say is:
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was [Mt. 2:9].
This does not necessarily mean that the star appeared to move in the sky in a way that stars don't ordinarily.
Departing from Jerusalem at night, they may have noted on the short (6 mile) trip to Bethlehem that the star was in front of them in the sky--a coincidence arranged by divine providence.
Then, when they got to the house, they noticed it was directly over the house--again, a coincidence arranged by divine providence but not necessarily an unusual motion for a star.
Thus the question of whether it could have been a natural phenomenon remains. Pope Benedict remarks:
Nevertheless, the question whether or not this was an astronomically identifiable and classifiable celestial apparition was not going to go away.
It would be wrong to dismiss it a priori on account of the theological character of the story.
With the emergence of modern astronomy, developed by believing Christians, the question of this star has been revisited [Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
Various proposals have been made, including for rare astronomical phenomena like the conjunction of certain planets in certain constellations, or supernovas.
Which of these, if any, might have been the Bethlehem star depends on precisely when Jesus was born, which is too complex a discussion for this post.
9. Does this mean astrology is okay?
No. As the Catechism explains:
All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology . . . contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone [CCC 2116].
God may have arranged for certain signs to attend the birth of his Son, but this is the opposite of what astrology involves. Pope Benedict explains:
The Fathers have emphasized a further aspect. Gregory Nazianzen says that at the very moment when the Magi adored Jesus, astrology came to an end, as the stars from then on traced the orbit determined by Christ (cf. Poem. Dogm. V 55–64: PG 37, 428–429).
In the ancient world, the heavenly bodies were regarded as divine powers, determining men’s fate. The planets bear the names of deities. According to the concept prevailing at the time, they somehow ruled over the world, and man had to try to appease these powers.
Biblical monotheism soon brought about a clear demythologization: with marvelous sobriety, the creation account describes the sun and the moon—the great divinities of the pagan world—as lights that God placed in the sky alongside the entire firmament of stars (cf. Gen 1:16f.).
On entering the Gentile world, the Christian faith had to grapple once again with the question of the astral divinities. Hence in the letters he wrote from prison to the Ephesians and the Colossians, Paul emphasizes that the risen Christ has conquered all the powers and forces in the heavens, and that he reigns over the entire universe.
The story of the wise men’s star makes a similar point: it is not the star that determines the child’s destiny, it is the child that directs the star [Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
What Now?
If you like the information I've presented here, you should join my Secret Information Club.
If you're not familiar with it, the Secret Information Club is a free service that I operate by email.
I send out information on a variety of fascinating topics connected with the Catholic faith.
In fact, the very first thing you’ll get if you sign up is information about what Pope Benedict says about the book of Revelation.
He has a lot of interesting things to say!
If you’d like to find out what they are, just sign up at www.SecretInfoClub.com or use this handy sign-up form:
Just email me at jimmy@secretinfoclub.com if you have any difficulty.
In the meantime, what do you think?
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you Jimmy! As always, it has been a blessing to read your article.
Awesome, Jimmy, just in time for my catechism class on Epiphany this Sunday. God bless!
Divine providence has led you to this blog! Thank-you for saying “yes” to our Lord and sharing your gifts with us!
Epiphany, in our home, is the last day we enjoy the Christmas tree & decorations.Right now, my house is the only one on our road with the Christmas lights still shining.It was sad to see other folks’ Christmas trees in the trash just a day or two after Dec. 25th. The 12 days of Christmas seem to have fallen along the cultural wayside.
Thanks, this is great material to share with so many curious people.
As Kathleen has said for many of us the Christmas season is extended to January 6th. The Twelve Days of Christmas very often no longer exists.
Christmas day celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the Jews and the feast of the Epiphany the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. It is still the main focus of the Orthodox Churches.
Celebrating the Epiphany is awesome! Here is a note I shared with our ministers.
Arise, Jerusalem, and look to the East
and see your children gathered from the rising to the setting of the sun.
(Entrance Chant, Baruch 5:5)
Dear sisters and brothers of the Christmas Child,
Happy 12th Day of Christmas! Happy Epiphany! Because the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord is so wonderful, so awesome, so miraculous, we had the four weeks of Advent to prepare. Then our holy Mother Church offered us four Liturgies in celebration of Christmas: a Vigil Mass, a Mass During the Night, a Mass at Dawn, and a Mass During the Day.
Still, such an extraordinary event needs more than one day of celebration. In 567 A.D., the Council of Tours called the 13 days from December 25th to January 6th a festival season, the Season of Christmas. The 12th Day of Christmas, Epiphany, is the grandest, merriest, brightest and best day of celebration. Epiphany means “a showing forth, a manifestation.” It is a celebration of Jesus’ wonder-filled showing forth on earth. The first and greatest wonder is the Nativity of Emmanuel, the manifestation of God-with-us.
Today we hear of the second wonder, the Visit of the Magi from the East, when Jesus was shown forth to the Gentiles. (Gospel, Matthew 2:1-12) Next week we will hear of another wonder, the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. (Gospel, Luke 3:15-16, 21-22) This is the manifestation of Jesus, the beloved Son of God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. The final wonder of the Epiphany is yet to come: the Marriage Feast at Cana. (Gospel, John 2:1-11) Here, in the company of Mary and the disciples, Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine, showing forth his divine power.
These are the wonders that make the Epiphany the grandest, merriest, brightest and best day of our Christmas celebration. As our calendar has developed over the years, due to social situations and obligations, the date now varies. This year, we celebrate the Visit of the Magi on January 6th. We will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord on January 13th. And we will hear about the Wedding Feast at Cana on January 20th, the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.
In the Gospel stories of the Epiphany of the Lord, we hear that God appears in creation, God is revealed in a star, in the waters of a river, in the shining skies, on the wings of a dove, and even in stone jars of everyday water. God truly gives us the greatest gift possible, his presence among us in, with and through Jesus, his only Son, our Brother and Lord. God proffers us the grace and action of the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, promising eternal life with the Communion of Saints in our Father’s House.
Through the ages, God’s family has celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany in many ways. The Magi, the “Three Kings,” are important characters. Traditionally, they’re known as Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. In some countries, their initials are written in chalk on the doorways of peoples’ homes. The initials also stand for the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat,” “may Christ bless this house.” This is a traditional time for the Blessing of a House.
In Latin countries, today is “el día de los Reyes,” when children receive gifts from the Three Kings. In the Orthodox Churches, today is the Great Blessing of Waters. The waters are blessed indoors at the Baptismal font on the Eve of the Epiphany and outdoors on the day of the feast at a body of water. In Louisiana, today is the beginning of Carnival. As the winter gloom fades away, people begin to enjoy the foods and fruits of spring. Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival.
Since many celebrations of the Liturgical Year depend on Easter, today our holy Mother Church proclaims the date of Easter. This proclamation dates from the time when calendars were not readily available. The number of Sundays that follow Epiphany, the date of Ash Wednesday and the number of Sundays that follow Pentecost are all computed in relation toEaster. The Epiphany Proclamation may be sung after the Gospel.
Epiphany Proclamation, 2013
Dear brothers and sisters,
the glory of the Lord has shone upon us,
and shall ever be manifest among us,
until the day of his return.
Through the rhythms of times and seasons
let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation.
Let us recall the year’s culmination,
the Easter Triduum of the Lord:
his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial,
and his rising celebrated between the evening of the 28th day of March
and the evening of the 30th day of March,
Easter Sunday being on the 31st day of March.
Each Easter—as on each Sunday—
the Holy Church makes present the great and saving deed
by which Christ has for ever conquered sin and death.
From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the 13th day of February.
The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on the 9th day of May.
Pentecost, joyful conclusion of the season of Easter,
will be celebrated on the 19th day of May.
And, this year the 1st Sunday of Advent will be on the 1st day of December.
Likewise, the pilgrim Church proclaims the passover of Christ
in the feasts of the holy Mother of God,
in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints,
and in the commemoration of the faithful departed.
To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come,
Lord of time and history,
be endless praise, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The song, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” is a Bible lesson. It is also a list of the gifts from God to his beloved family.
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
The 2 turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.
The 3 French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
The 4 calling birds are the 4 Gospels.
The 5 gold rings recall the Torah, the first 5 Books of the Old Testament.
The 6 geese a-laying stand for the 6 days of creation.
The 7 swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The 8 maids a-milking are the 8 beatitudes.
The 9 ladies dancing are the 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The 10 lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
The 11 pipers piping stand for the 11 faithful Apostles.
The 12 drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief
in the Apostles‘ Creed.
These are the gifts God’s sends us in, with and through the Partridge in the pear tree, “who was, who is, and who is to come.” Deo gratias!
Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has come;
and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion.
(Entrance Chant, Malachi 3:1, 1 Chronicles 29:12)
Entrance Chant #88 We Three Kings
Preparation of Gifts #92 As With Gladness Men of Old
Communion Chant #605 Christ Be Our Light
Sending Forth #93 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.
Paz y Bien, Rolando.
You could have mentioned that Matthew’s account does NOT state the number of magi. Our tradition on “Three” kings is based on the list of three gifts, i,e, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Interestingly, the cathedral in Koln (or Cologne) Germany claims to have relics of the three kings! (Which our tradition names as Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar.) Presumably the identification of the relics would have depended on either miraculous healings or visions sometime after the conversion of Constantine (312 A.D.).
TeaPot562
Flamen,
It was kind of reassuring after Mass this weekend to see one other home with its Christmas tree still lit & several other homes with wreaths & Christmas lights still burning.Maybe it’s because they just forgot to take them down,but I enjoyed seeing them on the 12th Night.
Perhaps if more folks did this we could reclaim the real Christmas season instead of starting the celebration the weekend after Halloween?
Jimmy writes, “In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.” 30-odd years later, in Acts ch. 10, God writes, “And [Peter] said to them: You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God has showed to me, to call no man common or unclean … And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that fears him and works justice is acceptable to him … Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” These were the first Gentiles to become “official” Christians- the first fruits.
Jimmy writes, “To the first of the four principal meanings, Magi are understood to be members of the Persian priestly caste.” They were therefore pagans still practicing their paganism, unlike Cornelius who had begun to worship “the only true God”, Jehovah. (Acts 10:2; John 17:3) About their failed star-gazing God writes, as the scribes explained to them and to Herod, “In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:1) God’s account of their itinerary, emphasis added: “there came wise men 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 come [TO JERUSALEM] to adore him.” The 5 or 6 miles mentioned is significant. The actual road is longer and hilly, and would be traveled on foot or on an animal at a walking pace. The two towns are quite separate, then and now.
Jimmy writes, “they were nevertheless custodians of religious and philosophical knowledge that had developed in that area and continued to be cultivated there” (“Magi are understood to be members of the Persian priestly caste.”), which Benedict calls “wholly positive”. God writes, “Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.” (Lev 19:26) “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft.” (De 18:10)
Jimmy asks, “What was the star?” Good question. Based on God’s account, what is the answer?
According to Jewish belief, stars are angels. Therefore, could it not be proposed that the star was the Angel of God?
Susan
Your blog is written very well for the future. New technology are best
for west village.
Very good post, and I like your points. However I do think that lists still have some merit, but the poster should try to make the list original and explain every point on the list in detail.
Very good post, and I like your points. However I do think that lists still have some merit, but the poster should try to make the list original and explain every point on the list in detail.
Tarot
Post a Comment
By submitting this form, you give The National Catholic Register permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
The time period for commenting on this article has expired.