Friday, July 17, 2020 –
Rolling along to our next Holy Day of Obligation…January 6th: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord!
Most people think Epiphany is the day we move the three Wise Men around the house and finally put them with the manger. Come on! Admit it, you totally march your tiny Wise Men around the house from Christmas until they arrive at the crèche on the Feast of the Epiphany!? You don’t? Well, you should! All the cool, traddy kids are doing it that way.
Anyhoo, back to our discussion about the Feast of the Epiphany. Here is what the Catechism has to say about Epiphany:
528 The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior 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 neighboring 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 Savior 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”).
Whew! Okay, that was a mouthful. Let’s break it down…
Epiphany is a manifestation, and a manifestation is when something—or in this case, someONE—is made clear or readily perceived. So, Epiphany means “the feast which celebrates the manifestation to the world of the newborn Christ as Messiah, Son of God and Savior of the world.” (CCC, p. 876) Christ is “manifested” (made clear, readily perceived) in three ways:
- The Magi – “the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East” (CCC, p. 876); the gentiles and pagans who “welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation” (Christ)
- The Baptism – Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan where we hear the Voice from Heaven proclaim, “This is My Beloved Son.”
- The Wedding at Cana – Christ’s first miracle, the transformation of water into wine
Did you catch the theme? If not, it is: the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God!
Aside from the Magi coming to town, there is one tradition that I truly wish would make a comeback: announcing Easter and the moveable feasts. It is a wonderful tradition that also serves as a reminder of the centrality of the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter), especially in relation to the liturgical year and the great mysteries of faith.
Yes, dear reader, back before Google calendars ruled the planet, people had to get their important dates and stuff from their local Priest, who would give the dates to the Deacon and have him sing them to us after the Gospel. I…kid…you…NOT! Can I get an “AMEN!?”
“Where it is the practice, if appropriate, the moveable Feasts of the current year may be proclaimed after the Gospel, according to the formula given below, pp. 1448-1449.” (Missale Romanum, p. 188)
You see, a lot (I mean A LOT!) of dates in the Catholic calendar center around when Easter happens, and since that moves from year to year (long story about moons and waxing somethings or other), we have to have an accounting of when the other dates that depend on Easter happen as well. Those are called the “moveable feasts.”
In his blessedly sing-songy voice, the good Deacon tells us the dates of:
- Ash Wednesday
- Easter
- Ascension
- Pentecost
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
- The First Sunday of Advent
For your enjoyment, here is the Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts for 2021:
Know, dear brethren, that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so by leave of God’s mercy we announce to you also the joy of his Resurrection, who is our Savior.
On the seventeenth day of February will fall Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season.
On the fourth day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day, the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[In those places where the Ascension is observed on Thursday]: On the thirteenth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[In those places where the Ascension is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter]: On the sixteenth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.]
On the twenty-third day of May, the feast of Pentecost.
[Because we move it to the following Sunday in the United States]: On the sixth day of June, the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
On the twenty-eighth day of November, the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Isn’t that just cool!? Well, maybe I am just old-school like that. Anyhoo, tomorrow will bring us half way through our list of Holy Days.
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light, have mercy on us.
