SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHAN OF THE LORD
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHAN OF THE LORD
January 6th
The Gospel of Saint Matthew (2,1-12) tells the story of the magicians.
Epiphany means “manifestation.” Jess makes himself known. Although Jesus made himself known at different times to different people, the Church celebrates three events as epiphanies:
His Epiphany before the Magi from the East: It is a manifestation to the pagans, to highlight that the Child God that is born, comes to save us all, regardless of our race.
His Epiphany of the Baptism of the Lord: Manifestation to the Jews through Saint John the Baptist.
His Epiphany of the Marriage of Cain: Manifestation to His disciples and beginning of His public life through the intercession of His Mother Mary.
THE GIFTS
Melchior, who represents the Europeans, offered the Christ Child a golden present that attests to his royalty. Gaspar, representative of the Semites of Asia, whose most precious asset is incense, offered it to the Child as a symbol of his divinity. And finally, Baltasar, black and bearded, identifies himself with the sons of Ham, the Africans, who deliver the myrrh, alluding to his future passion and resurrection.
THE ADORATION OF THE MAGIC KINGS
according to the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.
“I saw the caravan of the three Kings arriving at a gate to the South.
A group of men followed them to a stream in front of the city, then turned back. When they had passed the stream, they stopped for a moment to look for the star in the sky. Having spotted her, they gave a shout of joy and continued their march singing. The star did not lead them in a straight line, but on a path that veered a little to the west.
the big star
“The star, which shone at night like a globe of fire, now resembled the moon seen during the day; it was not perfectly round, but cut off; I often saw it hidden by clouds (…) The path What the Kings followed was lonely, and God was undoubtedly leading them there so that they could reach Bethlehem during the night, without attracting too much attention.
I saw them set off when the sun was already very low. They went in the same order, in which they had come; Mnsor, the youngest, went first; then came Sar, the sallow, and finally Theceno, the white, who was also the oldest.
“They were told of the valley of the shepherds as a good place to pitch their tents. They remained undecided for a long time. I did not ask them anything about the newborn king of the Jews. They knew that Bethlehem was the site designated by the prophecy, but because of what Herod had told them, they were afraid to draw attention to themselves.
“Soon they saw shining in the sky, on one side of Bethlehem, a meteor similar to the moon when it appears; then they mounted their mounts again, and skirting a ditch and some ruinous walls, they circled Bethlehem, to the south, and they went to the East towards the cave of the Manger, which they approached by the side of the plain where the angels had appeared to the shepherds (…) “The camp was in part arranged, when the Kings saw the star appear, clear and bright, on the hill of the Manger, directing its rays of light perpendicularly towards it. The star seemed to grow very large and shed an extraordinary amount of light (…)
a great jubilation
“Suddenly they felt a great joy, because they saw in the middle of the light, the resplendent figure of a child. They all took off their hats to show their respect; then the three Kings went towards the hill and found the door of the grotto. Mnsor opened it , seeing her filled with a celestial light, and in the background, the Virgin, seated, holding the Child, just as he and his companions had seen her in their visions.
I retraced his steps to tell the others what he had just seen (…) I saw them put on big white cloaks with a tail that touched the ground. They had a shiny reflection, as if they were made of natural silk; they were very beautiful and floated lightly around him. These were the ordinary garments for religious ceremonies. At the waist they carried some bags and some gold boxes hung from chains, covering all this with their wide cloaks. Each of the Kings was followed by four of his family, plus some of Mnsor’s servants carrying a small table, a fringed rug, and other items.
“The Kings followed Saint Joseph, and when they arrived under the eaves that were in front of the grotto, they covered the table with the rug and each one of them placed on it the gold boxes and the vessels that they took from their waist:
they were the presents that they offered among all.
in the manger
“Mnsor and the others took off their sandals, and Joseph opened the grotto door. Two young men of Mnsor’s retinue went before him; they spread a cloth on the floor of the grotto, then retreated back; two others followed with the table, on which were those present.
Once they arrived in front of the Blessed Virgin, Mnsor took them, and putting one knee on the ground, respectfully deposited them on their feet. Behind Mnsor stood the four men of his family, bowing humbly. Sar and Teceno, with their companions, had remained behind, near the entrance.
“Mary, leaning on one arm, was lying rather than sitting on a kind of carpet, to the left of the Child Jesus, who was lying in the place where he was born; but at the moment they entered, the Blessed Virgin sat down, covered herself with her veil and took the Child Jesus in her arms, also covered by her wide veil.
In the meantime, Maria had undressed the bust of the Child, who looked out with a friendly countenance from the center of the veil in which he was wrapped; her mother was holding her head with one of her arms and surrounding him with the other.
He had his little hands clasped on his chest, and often hung them gracefully around him (…) Then I saw Mnsor take out of a bag, hanging from his waist, a handful of small, compact, heavy bars, the length of a finger. , sharp at the extremity and bright as gold; it was his gift, which he humbly placed on the knees of the Blessed Virgin next to the Child Jesus (…) Then he withdrew, going back with his four companions, and Sar, the sallow King, came forward with his men and knelt with profound humility, offering his present with moving words. It was a golden glass to put the incense, full of small resinous grains, greenish in color; he put it on the table in front of the Child Jesus.
Then came Teceno, the eldest of the three. He was very old; his limbs were hardened, not being able to kneel down; but he stood up, bowing deeply, and placed on the table a golden vase with a beautiful green plant. It was a beautiful shrub with a straight stem, with small curly bouquets crowned by beautiful white flowers: it was myrrh (…) The words of the Kings and all their companions were full of simplicity and always very moving. At the moment of prostrating themselves and offering their gifts, they expressed themselves more or less in these terms: We have seen his star; we know that he is the King of all kings; we come to adore him and to offer him our homage and our gifts. And so on (…)
sweet and kind gratitude
The Mother of God accepted everything with humble thanksgiving; She said nothing at first, but a simple movement under her veil expressed her pious emotion. The Nio’s little body was shining through the folds of her mantle.
At last, She spoke a few humble and gracious words to each one, and drew back her veil a little. There I was able to receive a new lesson.
I thought: with what sweet and gracious gratitude each present is received! She, who needs nothing, who possesses Jesus, humbly welcomes all the gifts of charity. I too, in the future, will humbly and gratefully receive all charitable gifts. How much goodness in Mary and Joseph! They kept almost nothing for themselves, and distributed everything among the poor
(…)
The solemn honors rendered to the Child Jesus, whom they were forced to lodge so poorly, and whose supreme dignity remained hidden in their hearts, consoled them infinitely. They saw that the almighty Providence of God, despite the blindness of men, had prepared for the Child of Promise, and had sent him from the most distant regions, what they themselves could not give him: the adoration due to his dignity, and offered by the mighty of the earth with a holy magnificence. They adored Jesus with the holy Kings. The tributes offered made them very happy (…)
Entertainment
“Meanwhile, Joseph, with the help of two old shepherds, had prepared a frugal meal in the Three Kings’ tent. They brought bread, fruit, honeycombs, some herbs, and jars of balm, putting everything on a low table, covered with a rug.Joseph had obtained these things since the morning to receive the Kings, whose coming had been announced in advance by the Blessed Virgin (…) In Jerusalem I saw today, during the day, Herod still reading some books. scrolls in the company of some scribes, and talking about what the three Kings had said, then everything became quiet again, as if they had wanted to hush up this matter.
“Early this morning I saw the King and Queen and some of their retinue, successively visiting the Holy Family. I also saw them, during the day, near their camp and their beasts of burden, engaged in making various distributions. They were full of joy and happiness, and distributed many gifts. I saw that then, it was always used to do this, on the occasion of happy events.
“In the evening, they went to the Manger to say goodbye. First it was just Mnsor.
Mary put the Child Jesus in his arms; she he wept and beamed with joy.
Then the other two came, and they shed tears as they parted. They still brought many presents; pieces of diverse fabrics, among which some that seemed to be undyed silk, and others that were red or flowered; they also brought very beautiful quilts. They also wanted to leave behind their large pale yellow cloaks, which seemed to be made of extremely fine wool; they were very light and the slightest breath of air stirred them.
They also brought several cups, placed one on top of the other, boxes full of grain, and in a basket, some pots where there were beautiful bouquets of a green plant with pretty white flowers. Those potsherds were stacked one on top of the other inside the basket. It was myrrh. They also gave José some cages full of birds, which they had brought in large numbers on their dromedaries to feed on them.
The farewell
“When they parted from Maria and the Child, they all shed many tears.
I saw the Blessed Virgin standing next to them at the moment of saying goodbye.
She carried the Child Jesus wrapped in her veil on her arm, and took a few steps to accompany the Kings to the door of the grotto; there he paused in silence, and to give these excellent men a remembrance, he removed from her head the great transparent veil of yellow cloth which enshrouded her and the Child Jesus, and placed it in Mnsor’s hands. The Kings received that present bowing deeply, and a joy full of respect made their hearts beat, when they saw before them the Most Holy Virgin without a veil, holding the little Jesus. How many sweet tears they shed as they left the grotto! The veil was for them from then on the holiest of relics they possessed.
“Towards midnight, I suddenly had a vision. I saw the Kings…