The Feast of the Epiphany

 

Feast of the Epiphany

Source: ETWN

What are the liturgical references to the Epiphany?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 528) states, "The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world".

The Gospel of St Matthew 2:1-12, meant for Jewish audiences, bears testimony to the Magi's coming to the Holy Land, to pay homage to the king of the Jews. This shows that Gentiles come to seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be King of all nations. This was contrary to almost 1800 years of Jewish tradition starting with Abraham himself that said Yahweh was the God/Saviour for the chosen people alone.

There are also Old Testament prophecies concerning the Epiphany.

Isaiah 60:6 says, “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.”

Psalm 72:10–11 says, “May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!”

What is the spiritual significance of Epiphany?

On the Solemnity of the Epiphany in 2019, Pope Francis had this to say, "It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter him. When his place becomes our place, when his time becomes our time, when his person becomes our life, the prophecies come to fulfilment in us. Then Jesus is born within us. He becomes the living God for me. Today we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the centre but bow down before the One who is the centre. They do not remain glued to their plans but are prepared to take other routes. Their actions reveal a close contact with the Lord, a radical openness to him, a total engagement with him. They use the language of love with him, the same language that Jesus, though an infant, already speaks. Indeed, the Magi go to the Lord not to receive, but to give. Let us ask ourselves this question: at Christmas did we bring gifts to Jesus for his party, or did we only exchange gifts among ourselves?"

What do we know about the Magi?

It is important to note that Epiphany (from Greek epiphaneia, “manifestation”), which now falls on the twelfth day after Christmas in Latin rite churches, is not about the arrival of the three Magi in the early church but the revelation that Jesus Christ was God’s only and beloved child revealed not just for Israel but to the whole world (the Magi were Persian priests-scientists-philosophers, i.e. Gentiles not Jews, who were inspired to follow the star to Bethlehem).

The Gospel of St Matthew doesn't say how many Magi there were or even that they were kings - that's the stuff of popular lore. The number three comes from the three gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh — gifts that point not only to Christ’s divinity and his revelation as the King of Kings but also to his ultimate death by crucifixion. In giving herbs traditionally used for burial, these gifts, he said, bring a theological “shadow, a sense of anticipation of what is to come.”

No one said it better than St. Peter Chrysologus,  “Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.” 

Was there really a Star of Bethlehem?

The Fathers and Doctors of the Church who commented on it did not hold it to be a “star” in the astronomical sense, at all. 

St. Thomas Aquinas, following earlier ecclesiastical writers like St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, said, "It is clear, for many reasons, that the star which appeared to the Magi did not belong to the heavenly system. First, because no other star approaches from the same quarter as this star, whose course was from north to south, these being the relative positions of Persia, whence the Magi came, and Judea. Secondly, from the time [at which it was seen]. For it appeared not only at night but also at midday: and no star can do this, not even the moon. Thirdly, because it was visible at one time and hidden at another. For when they entered Jerusalem it hid itself: then, when they had left Herod, it showed itself again. Fourthly, because its movement was not continuous, but when the Magi had to continue their journey the star moved on; when they had to stop the star stood still; as happened to the pillar of a cloud in the desert. Fifthly, it indicated the virginal Birth, not by remaining aloft, but by coming down below. For it is written (Matthew 2:9) that "the star which they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the child was." Whence it is evident that the words of the Magi, "We have seen His star in the east," are to be taken as meaning, not that when they were in the east the star appeared over the country of Judea, but that when they saw the star it was in the east, and that it preceded them into Judea (although this is considered doubtful by some). But it could not have indicated the house distinctly unless it were near the earth. And, as he [Chrysostom] observes, this does not seem fitting to a star, but "of some power endowed with reason." Consequently "it seems that this was some invisible force made visible under the form of a star."

Why is Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th?

Up until the 4th century, Christmas or Jesus’ birth was celebrated on January 6 (it still is in most parts of the Orthodox Church around the world). However, in 325 AD Emperor Constantine (the first to convert to Christianity through the influence of his mother Saint Helena) moved the observance of Christmas in the Western Church to December 25, the day of the Sol Invictus or the Unconquered Sun.

At the Council of Tours in 567, the Church set both Christmas Day and Epiphany as feast days on Dec. 25 and Jan. 6, respectively, and named the 12 days between the feasts as the Christmas season.

How is Epiphany celebrate around the world?

Among Catholics, Epiphany Eve (also known as Twelfth Night) marks the end of the traditional Christmas celebrations and is the time when you were meant to take Christmas decorations down.

In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and other Easern rite churches (which celebrates Christmas on 7th January), twelve days after Christmas, on 19th January, the three day celebration of Ethiopians Timkat or Theophany (meaning “revelation of God”) starts. This celebrates Jesus's baptism in the River Jordan at age 30.

In Spain, Epiphany is known as 'The festival of the three Magic Kings' - 'Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages', and children receive presents - as delivered by the Three Kings! On Epiphany morning you might go to the local bakers and buy a special cake/pastry called a 'Roscón' (meaning a ring shaped roll). They are normally filled with cream or chocolate and decorated with a paper crown. In Catalonia it's known as a Tortell or Gâteau des Rois and is stuffed with marzipan.

In France you might eat a 'Galette des Rois', a type of flat almond cake. It has a toy crown cooked inside it and is decorated on top with a gold paper crown.

In Mexico where Epiphany is known as 'El Dia de los Reyes' (the day of The Three Kings), the traditional is to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Reyes' (Three Kings Cake). A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.

In Portugal, people take part in Epiphany carol singing known as the 'Janeiras' (January songs). On the Island of Maderia they're known as the 'Cantar os Reis' (singing the kings).

In Italy, some children also get their presents on Epiphany. But they believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings them. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill.

At Epiphany in Belgium, children dress up as the three wise men and go from door to door to sing songs and people give them money or sweets, kind of like Trick or Treating on Halloween. 

In Ireland, Epiphany is also sometimes called 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas. Traditionally the women get the day off and men do the housework and cooking! It is becoming more popular and many Irish women now get together on the Sunday nearest Epiphany and have tea and cakes!

Epiphany in Poland is marked by taking chalk — along with gold, incense, and amber — to be blessed at Mass. Back at home, families will inscribe the first part of the year, followed by the letters, “C+M+B+” and then the last numbers of the year on top of every door in the house. The letters, stand for the popular names given to the Wise Kings — Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar — as well as for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or “Christ, bless this house.”

Likewise in Austria, at Epiphany, some people write a special sign in chalk over their front door, made from the year split in two with the same initials in the middle. So 2024 would be: 20*C*M*B*24. The sign is meant to protect the house for the coming year. 

References:

1. Epiphany. (2021, January). EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/seasons-and-feast-days/epiphany-20565 

2. The history of the Epiphany: Here’s what you need to know. (2024, January 5). Catholic News Agency. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35171/the-history-of-the-epiphany-heres-what-you-need-to-know

3. whychristmas.com. (n.d.). Epiphany, the Feast of The Wise Men. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/epiphany