Do you Celebrate the Epiphany?

By: Kathleen Cosgrove

This Sunday marks the twelfth day of the Christmas season, the Solemnity of the Epiphany. To be honest, as a child I only knew this as ‘Three King’s Day,’ or ‘that other day I put my shoe out at night and get candy, toys, and saint books the next morning.’ This holy day, though, is more than just a feast day, it is a holy day of obligation (however, in some countries, such as ours, the celebration has been moved to Sunday). Epiphany means ‘manifestation’ or ‘revelation’ and marks the day that the Three Kings came to worship the newborn Christ. Pope Benedict spoke of the significance of this date, saying in his Epiphany homily of 2012, “[t]he wise men from the East lead the way. They open up the path of the Gentiles to Christ”.  What an important day this truly is! From the very beginning of his life on earth, God makes it clear that our Savior hasn’t come only for His chosen people, the Jews, but for all people.

Nevertheless, the importance of the Epiphany goes unrecognized by many of us. Since it is celebrated after Christmas and the New Year, in the midst of daily life returning to its bustling normalcy after a brief respite, the significance of this feast day can be all too easily be overlooked. This holy day needs to be recovered by Catholics as much more than just a reason for a candy-laden shoe or the last day for die-hards to take down their Christmas tree.

In other parts of the world, Epiphany has a rich tradition and is almost as joyous as Christmas. If you are Greek, you may be familiar with young men diving into freezing cold waters to retrieve a sunken crucifix in honor of Christ’s own Baptism. Eastern Orthodox churches hold Epiphany in such a high esteem that it is called the Feast of the Theophany and is the subject of parades and festivals in honor of God’s revelation to us.

This isn’t to say that you should dive into any frigid waters, but instead, that we should all try to recognize more fully the revelation of the Epiphany, one of joy and thanks to Christ. Let’s try to add a small devotion or new tradition to praise the many miraculous events that Epiphany honors. The USSCB has an Epiphany Blessing of Homes available online that would be a great way to celebrate this day. Does your family already have an Epiphany tradition? What does this day mean to you as a Catholic?

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Celebrating the Immaculate Conception

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is certainly an important day for the Catholic Church.  In anticipation of this feastday and Holy Day of Obligation, please take some time to find a Mass near you using our Locator. For some, it will be a sacrifice to fit Mass into their Wednesday schedule. This prayerful sacrifice, however, is particularly appropriate in Advent as we strive to wait patiently for the Lord at Christmas and to encounter Him in prayer and the sacraments.

To mark the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Loverde wrote about how Mary may seem to be a difficult person to relate to, as she was conceived with no stain of original sin on her soul. Take a moment to learn more how Mary is the perfect role model for us as we strive to prepare our hearts to receive Christ:

“As Christmas approaches, it is not uncommon to pass by scenes depicting the Nativity, whether in front of a church, on a greeting card or in our homes. In these tableaus, we see an image or statue of the Virgin Mary, often looking serene and joyous at the birth of her Divine Son. While we rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas present in Nativity scenes, it may be difficult for some to relate to the Blessed Mother, appearing seemingly unapproachable in her perfection, especially when we consider our own weaknesses and challenges. Yet, as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception nears, we are asked to consider the central role of Mary in the Nativity and the power of her witness and intercession in our lives.”

Read the full text here.

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