St. Michael the Archangel

~ PRAYER ~

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+

Feast of
the Holy Name of Jesus

Luke 2:21 "...Et vocatum est Nomen eius IESUS"
("And His Name was called JESUS")

Psalm 90:14 "Because he hoped in me I will deliver him:
I will protect him because he hath known My Name."

Zacharias 10:12 "I will strengthen them in the Lord,
and they shall walk in His Name, saith the Lord."

Apocalypse 3:8 "I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied My Name."

Apocalypse 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and magnify Thy Name?..."

Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!

January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Phil:2:10-11

The Most Holy Name
The Power of Jesus’ Name
What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus [Catholic Caucus]
Litany Of The Holy Name of Jesus
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Jesus, The Name above all Names
Devotion to the Holy Name (of Jesus) [Catholic Caucus]
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Excerpt from a Sermon) (Catholic Caucus)
St. Francis de Sales on the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Catholic/Orthodox Caucus)

St. Bernard on the Most Holy Name of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Saving the day in His Holy Name: St. Genevieve gets a reprieve [Catholic Caucus]
The Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Name of Jesus [San Bernadino of Siena] Ecumenical
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
The Holy Name of Jesus
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
The Holy Name of Jesus

Philippians 2
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

January, 2019

The Holy Father's Prayer Intention

Evangelization – Religious Minorities in Asia, That Christians and other religious minorities in Asian countries, may be able to practice their faith in full freedom.

'Moderate fasting, vigils and psalmody are natural means for achieving a balance in the body's temperament.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3717826/posts?page=2

Saint of the Day — Saint Andre Bessette

St. André Bessette [his *first* feast day...hooray!]
The Day Brother Andre Bessette & Father Solanus Casey, Two Future Modern Day Saints Met
Miracles have a measure
Pope Benedict to Raise Six to Sainthood [Catholic Caucus]
The Seven Crosses of Br. André’s Life
Brother André: Montreal’s Porter and Heaven’s Gatekeeper — A Reflection on St. André of Montreal
The Story of Blessed Andre Bessette (1845 - 1937) (canonization in Rome, tomorrow)
Saintly Man [Brother Andre to be Canonized Sunday]
Brother Andre, Quebec's Humble Healer
Canada’s Brother Andre moves closer to sainthood

Zenit.org

‘Epiphany: A Child Entrusted to Our Love by His Mother,’ by Archbishop Follo

Considerations Over Three Feasts

December 27, 2018 15:41Francesco FolloSunday Readings

Epiphany: a child entrusted to our love by his mother

Considerations over three feasts:

Sacred Family – December 30, 2018

Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Peace – January 1, 2019

Epiphany, the manifestation of a child entrusted to our love – January 6, 2019

A family who is a model because of its sainthood.

With Christmas, Advent became an adventure. Through His incarnation, the Word of God has dwelled among us and we, like Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the Magi, have started the Christian adventure that is the mission to announce what has happened and what we have encountered: the Word of life, of peace and of joy.

To communicate what has happened is to make communion our presence and the presences we encounter, to renew the miracle of His Presence, to renew His coming, and to renew with others the event He has realized with us, with others, with things, and with all: peace. God is peace and He is the one who brings peace.

The fact that they went to Bethlehem and entered in the temporary dwelling of the sacred family, has allowed the shepherds and the Magi not only to meet the Son of God, but also to live a familiarity with Christ. At the beginning they stayed at the doorstep of that humble abode, then they went closer to Christ. I hope that they had the opportunity to touch Him, to cuddle Him and I’m sure that Christ has dwelled in them. Then, they took Him into the world: the small world of the shepherds and the big world of the Kings.

The shepherds and the Magi left the cave not because they had to go back to their daily life, but to continue as missionaries the saintly journey where another was giving meaning to their doing. Even if they had not fully acknowledged it, they had put themselves in the stretched hands of a child, in the hands of Another, in the hands of God.

To adhere to this event and to this Presence, one must begin a journey. We must depart from ourselves not just from our home or our loved ones. We must put our roots in Christ so that we can stretch out in the world in the same way that the branches of a tree grow toward the sky the more the tree put its roots in the ground.

Why should we begin this journey? Not only to return home, but also to announce that the encounter with Christ is a growth in humanity. The newborn, the God made Man doesn’t destroy anything, doesn’t leave anything out, but consecrates all and discloses everything. He gives to all feelings and to all vocations a dimension which is infinite, unbelieving, unforeseen and wonderful.

In this regard the best simple and imitable example comes from the Sacred Family who was a missionary community. In fact, the mission of Christ became the missionary vocation of Mary and Joseph who put their freedom at the Son’s disposal. These two saints, united in the respect and in the love of a pure and fecund community, began the journey of their life with Christ and for Christ. For Him and with Him they went from Nazareth (whose name means Garden) to Bethlehem (whose name means city of Bread), from Bethlehem to Egypt, and from Egypt to Nazareth. They carried Christ along the roads of the world and they were the first partners of Salvation.

The Sacred Family was the Ark of the Covenant, carried in the exodus of life. It was and it is “a school of the gospel. Here we learn to observe, to listen, to meditate, and to penetrate the profound and mysterious meaning of that simple, humble, and lovely manifestation of the Son of God. (Paul VI Reflections at Nazareth January 5, 1964)

An abnormal family as a way of life

The singularity of the Sacred Family (a virgin mother, a stepfather, a son who is God) doesn’t undermine the fact that it is and must always be the example of all Christian families.

It is clear that it is not an average family but it is correctly proposed as the model of the concreteness of a couple that sees their life overturned by God’s action and by man’s delirium. They are a model in their ability to put themselves truly aside without any retribution, without fear to serve the mission of peace of Jesus, and, doing so, they enter into the great project that God has on the world.

As every other mother, Mary holds tightly to her chest the baby who can feel the heat and the smell of her skin.

In the cave, Joseph is now serene because if it is true that he was the witness of a birth in humanly humbling conditions (which is the first announcement of the “divestment” (Phil 2:5-8)), it is also true that he was the witness of the adoration of the shepherds that had followed the annunciation of the angel (Lk 2:15-16) as well as that of the Magi (Mt 2:11). The adventure of having the birth of his spouse’s son happening far away from home, had a big impact on him. Now, after that difficult night full of emotions and signs in which the angel asked him to welcome Mary and her son, the young Joseph is full of faith in the future. What Joseph had seen and heard is big indeed, and this event comforts him in his role of a father to whom the “private” and “hidden” life of Jesus is entrusted.

After the long and difficult stay in Egypt, Mary and Joseph go back to Nazareth where Jesus grows up. The adolescent Jesus runs away from home to dispute with the doctor of the Law. What a tenderness we see in these two parents who have problems with a rebel son who, according with the human logic, we would say that has an adolescent crisis. In reality the “boy” Jesus was expressing the Father’s authority and His belonging to the divine Family.

We must admire Mary’s and Joseph’s big faith that made them recognize in their child, who looked exactly as any other child, the Son of God.

The feast of the Sacred Family pushes us to look at our family with a look of faith and light, and to recognize the hidden Mystery in all our loved ones. They teach us about God and make us understand that a heroic life has become daily life so that daily life can become heroic.

Let’s the following prayer be the today’s and always the prayer for our family and for all the families of the world:

“God, our creator and Father, you wanted your Son, generated before the beginning of time, to become a member of the human family. Revive in us the adoration for the gift and the mystery of life so that the parents be participant of the fecundity of your love and the children grow in wisdom, age and grace praising your holy name” Let’s bring to humanity the joyful announcement: “For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us…and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:5)

3) God is in the ones who brings peace: He is peace.

Peace, continuously offended and attached, is a common desire because peace is life. I believe it is for this reason that Pope Paul VI in 1967 established World Peace Day January 1st, the day in which the liturgy celebrates Mary as Mother of God and Mother of all men and women.

Peace, in the biblical sense, is the gift of the Messiah. It is the salvation carried by Jesus. It is our reconciliation with God. It is also a human value to be made real socially and politically, but that has its roots in the mystery of Christ (Gaudium and Spes, chapter V), who is the, “author of salvation and the source of unity and peace (Lumen Gentium, paragraph 9). It is clear that the Christian must take part in the efforts of having peace in the world.

The first way to be maker of peace is sacrifice. Let’s then make sacrifices and educate ourselves and others to sacrifice. People of my generation will remember how our mothers and our priests invited us to make every day during Advent a small “sacrifice” to be presented to the Baby Jesus so that he could be more comfortable in the manger. Our mothers and our priests in a simple way taught us that the true meaning of Christ’ birth in the world was to make peace on Earth through sacrifice.

The history of the Child of Bethlehem is a history of sacrifice up to the sacrifice of the Cross, seal of peace.

Peace realized through sacrifice is the evident manifestation (=epiphany) of God’s project which is the perfect communication of what He is: self-giving Love.

Epiphany of peace

Epiphany celebrates three divine manifestations: the manifestation to the Magi, the manifestation on the Jordan banks for the baptism of Jesus, and the manifestation at the wedding at Canaan.

Today, the manifestation of the Savior to the pagan Magi is predominant: they represent our vocation to the light of the Gospel and the triumph of the generous faith: “We have seen the star and we came…” They abandoned their palaces and their certainties and followed the “certainty’ of the star of Christ. In doing so they were able to reach the Child, who was carrying eternal Love in the world. They not only came to Christ but also in Christ.

When the Magi came to the cave, they realized that their search had ended. Then their mission was beginning.

What did they see that gave them a new mission?

A Child in the arms of the Mother, who, with her consent, had put God at our reach. The “veil” of her humanity doesn’t allow the infinite brightness of the divinity to make us blind. This manifestation of God to humanity is a mystery of mercy, which no human mind would have ever been able to conceive on its own. Borrowing from the Byzantine liturgy I write:

They saw the Virgin Mary as a “spiritual sparrow that brings forth the Spring of charity, which wipes out the atheist Winter, and the luminous cloud that brings the spiritual rain, which refreshes the burned earth. Her womb is like a spiritual paradise where the divine plan grows”.

They saw Jesus whose “invisible nature, being born from the Virgin Daughter of God and becoming like us, makes itself visible to us. He comes to live among us carried on Cherubim’s’ wings. In a way that surpasses every imagination, the life-giving Master becomes flesh to save our race. The evershining sun comes from a tender Virgin to lighten all that is under the sun.

They saw Joseph as the paternal guardian of “the One, who wrapped up like a newborn, holds the universe in His hands. He is lying in a manger, which is the burning throne of the Word. The Word has been incarnated into the form of a child.”

After they had seen, adored and offered their gifts, these Kings left the Cave. Theirs was not a simple return home. The Light that they had contemplated was in their hearts and they carried it into the world.

Through Christians’ testimony, the light of Bethlehem continues to shine in the entire world. To those who have welcomed it, Saint Agustin reminds: “Even we, recognizing Christ our King and priest who died for us, have honored him as if we had offered him gold, incense and myrrh. What remains for us to do is to bear witness to him by taking a different road from the one on which we came” (Sermo 202, In Epiphania Domini)

It is way of justice and peace because it manifests the light of a God who shows his face to us and appears to us in the manger at Bethlehem. He is the only one who can make the human heart open itself to peace and become a maker of peace.

This is true in particular for the consecrated virgins. Epiphany reminds them to live their vocation with the realization of the commitment they have undertaken with their consecration that doesn’t force them into a specific service, but requires them to be a living testimony of a perfect life. They are requested to be witnesses of the Father. In fact, as it is read in the consecration rite, the Father “calls them to be in His presence as angels in front of His face” (Rite of the consecration of Virgins, # 64) in the same way that the Magi were in front of Jesus whom the Virgin Mother had trusted to their love.

May God, hidden to man’s eye, reveal himself in the sainthood of the life of His consecrated virgins.

As practical advice, I’d like to propose an exhortation by Saint Bede the Venerable and Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer for peace:

“Let’s love Christ and let’s follow with perseverance the commandments that we have begun to follow. The more we’ll love him, the more we’ll earn the Father’s love. He will give us the grace of his infinite love for eternity. Now He allows us to believe and to hope. We will therefore see Him face to face. He will manifest Himself to us in the same glory that the Father had before the world began. (Saint Bede the Venerable, Homily 12)

Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer for peace:

Lord, make me a channel of your peace;

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;

to understand, than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.

Amen.

https://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=42

Year C - The Epiphany of the Lord

Falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:1-12
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ “
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Jewish people were expecting the Messiah for thousands of years.
However, my coming into the world was a humble event very obscure to them,
but for the light given off by a star.

I am the light of the world that came to give light to those in darkness. The people who had the light of God through the Holy Scriptures were living in darkness just as the rest of the world.

Only the humble servants of God and a few shepherds received the knowledge of my coming and participated in the coming of the great light that would overcome darkness.

In the same way three very special humble men were chosen from different cultures to perceive in wisdom the great event that was taking place, the coming of the Saviour of the world.

Just as the rain comes for the good and the bad, and the sun shines to virtuous and sinners alike, I have come for everyone. Every human being has been made in the image of God, but sin has destroyed that image. I am the Lord who forgives sins and restores the image of God in every person.

The enemy has always been around trying to destroy the work of God, Herod was preparing to destroy the New King, but the plan of God has always been superior to the plan of the wicked.

The three wise men represent all the peoples of the world, who live in darkness and need my light to survive spiritually. I accepted the homage of these three humble men who went out of their ways to give glory to God by accepting the coming of His Son into the world.

The offering of the incense represents faith in me, Jesus, the Son of the Living God.
This is the greatest gift any one can offer me. This I accept through your prayers and your acceptance of my Word and the Church I left to represent me.

The offering of myrrh represents the suffering that I endured and the sufferings that all those who believe in me must suffer for my sake. It is the cross, which is given to everyone of my followers and requires the acceptance of the Will of God.

The offering of gold represents the treasure of praise, adoration, honour and thanksgiving offered to me, your Lord, God and Saviour. It is the gift that I receive from every soul who appreciates that I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Archdiocese of Washington

The Journey of Faith – A Homily for the Feast of Epiphany

Msgr. Charles Pope • January 5, 2019 •

There are so many wonderful details in the Epiphany story: the call of the Gentiles, their enthusiastic response, the significance of the star they seek, the gifts they bring, the dramatic interaction with Herod, and their ultimate rejection of Herod in favor of Christ.

In this meditation, I would like to follow these Magi in their journey of faith to become “Wise Men.” As magi, they followed the faint stars, distant points of light; as wise men, they follow Jesus, who is the ever glorious Light from Light, true God from true God.

We can observe how they journey in stages from the light of a star to the bright and glorious Light of Jesus Christ. And, of course, to authentically encounter the Lord is to experience conversion. All the elements of this story ultimately serve to cause them to “return to their country by another route.” Let’s look at the stages of their journey from being mere magi to becoming, by God’s grace, wise men.

Stage 1: The CALL that COMPLETES – The text says, When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

Notice the identity of these individuals: they are labeled magi (μάγοι (magoi) in Greek) and are from the East.

Exactly what “magi” are is not clear. Perhaps they are learned men; perhaps they are ancient astronomers. We often think of them as kings, though the text of this passage does not call them that. It also seems likely that Herod would have been far more anxious had they been actual potentates from an Eastern kingdom. We often think of them as kings because Psalm 72 (read in today’s Mass) speaks of kings coming from the East bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. However, for the record, the text in today’s Gospel does not call them kings, but rather “magi.”

Yet here is their key identity: they are Gentiles who have been called. Up until this point in the Christmas story, only Jews had found their way to Bethlehem. This detail cannot be overlooked, for it is clear that the Gospel is going out to all the world. This call completes the Church, which needs both Jews and Gentiles.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul rejoices in this fact, saying, the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Eph 3:6). Because most of us are not Jewish by ancestry we ought to rejoice, for the call of these Magi prefigures our call.

Notice that God calls them through something in the natural world: a star. God uses something in creation to call out to them.

We do well to wonder what is the “star” that God uses to call each of us? Perhaps it is Scripture, but more typically God uses someone in our life in order to reach us: a parent, a family member, a friend, a priest, a religious sister, or a devoted lay person. Who are the stars in your life through whom God called you?

God can also use inanimate creation, as he did for these Magi. Perhaps it was a magnificent church, or a beautiful painting, or an inspirational song that reached you. Through something or someone, God calls each of us; He puts a star in our sky. These Wise Men, these Magi, followed the call of God and began their journey to Jesus.

Stage 2: The CONSTANCY that CONQUERS – Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the Magi find a rather confusing and perhaps discouraging situation. The reigning king, Herod, knows nothing of the birth of this new King. The Magi likely assumed that the newborn King would be related to the current king, so Herod’s surprise may have confused them. And Herod seems more than surprised; he seems threatened and agitated.

Even more puzzling, Herod calls in religious leaders to get further information about this new King. They open the sacred writings and the Magi hear of a promised King. Ah, so the birth of this King has religious significance! How interesting!

But these religious leaders seem unenthusiastic about the newborn King, and after providing the location of His birth, make no effort to follow the Magi. There is no rejoicing, no summoning of the people to tell them that a longed-for King has finally been born, not even further inquiry!

So the wicked (Herod and his court) are wakeful while the saints are sleepy. How odd this must have seemed to the Magi! Perhaps they even thought about abandoning their search. After all, the actual king knew nothing of this new King’s birth, and those people who did know about it seemed rather uninterested.

Ah, but praise the Lord, they persevered in their search; they did not give up!

Thanks be to God, too, that many today have found their way to Christ despite the fact that parents, clergy, and others who should have led them to Jesus were either asleep, ignorant, or just plain lazy. I am often amazed at some of the conversion stories I have heard: people who found their way to Christ and His Church despite some pretty daunting obstacles (e.g., poor religious upbringing, scandalous clergy, and poor role models). God sometimes allows our faith and call to be tested, but Those who persevere to the end will be saved (Matt 24:13).

To persevere is to open the door to wisdom, which often must be sought in spite of obstacles. This constancy is often what it takes to overcome the darkness and discouragements of the world.

Stage 3: The CONDESCENSION that CONFESSES – The text says, After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

With what little information they have, the Magi set out and continue to follow the call of God through the star.

Note that they enter a “house.” We often think of the Magi as coming that same Christmas night to the cave or stable, but it seems not; Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are now in a house. Apparently they have been able to find decent lodging. Has it been days or weeks since Jesus’ birth? Regardless, it is likely not Christmas Day itself.

Notice, too, that they “prostrate” themselves before Jesus. The Greek word used is προσεκύνησαν (prosekunēsan), which means “to fall down in worship” or “to give adoration.” This word is used twelve times in the New Testament and each time it is clear that religious worship is the reason for the prostration.

This is no minor act of homage or sign of respect to an earthly king; this is religious worship. It is a confession of faith. The Magi manifest faith! The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And these Magi are well on their way from being mere magi to being wise men!

But is their faith a real faith or just a perfunctory observance? It is not enough to answer an altar call or to get baptized. Faith is never alone; it is a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. So let’s look for the effects of a real and saving faith.

Stage 4: The COST that COMES – There is a cost to discipleship. The Magi are moved to give three symbolic gifts that show some of what true faith includes. They are costly gifts.

Gold symbolizes all of our possessions. In laying this gift before Jesus, they and we are saying, “I acknowledge that everything I have is yours. I put all my resources and wealth under your authority and will use them only according to your will.” A conversion that has not reached the wallet is not complete.

Frankincense is a resin used in incense and symbolizes the gift of worship. In the Bible, incense is a symbol of prayer and worship (e.g., Psalm 141). In laying down this gift, we promise to pray and worship God all the days of our life, to be in His holy house each Sunday, to render Him the praise and worship He is due, to listen to His word and consent to be fed the Eucharist by Him, to worship Him worthily by frequent confession, and to praise Him at all times.

Myrrh is a strange gift for an infant; it is usually understood as a burial ointment. Surely this prefigures Jesus’ death, but it also symbolizes our own. In laying this gift before Jesus we are saying, “My life is yours. I want to die so that you may live your life in me. May you increase and may I decrease. Use me and my life as you will.”

Yes, these three gifts are highly symbolic.

The Magi manifest more than a little homage to Jesus. They are showing forth the fruits of saving faith. And if we can give these gifts, so are we.

In their holy reverence for God is wisdom in its initial stage!

Stage 5: The CONVERSION that is CLEAR – The text says, And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Here, then, is essential evidence for faith: conversion. It is not enough to get “happy” in Church; we have to obey. These Wise Men are walking differently now. They are not going home by the same way they came. They’ve changed direction; they’ve turned around (conversio). They are now willing to walk the straight and narrow path that leads to life rather than the wide road that leads to damnation. They are going to obey Christ. They are going to exhibit what St. Paul calls the “obedience of faith” (Rom 1:5; 16:26). They have not just engaged in perfunctory worship; they are showing signs of a true and saving faith. They are not just calling out to Jesus, “Lord, Lord!” They are doing what He tells them (cf Luke 6:46).

No longer mere magi, they are now wise men!

So there it is. Through careful stages, the Lord has brought the Gentiles (this means you and me) to conversion. He called these Magi to wisdom. They remained constant, confessed Him to be Lord, accepted the cost of discipleship, and manifested conversion. Have you? Have I?

Walk in the ways of these Wise Men! Wise men still seek Him; even wiser ones listen to and obey Him. Are we willing to go back to our country by another route? Is ongoing conversion part of our journey home to Heaven? Epiphany means “manifestation.” How is our faith made manifest in our deeds and conversion?

I have it on the best of authority that as the (now) Wise Men went home by another route, they were singing this gospel song:

It’s a highway to heaven!
None can walk up there
but the pure in heart.
I am walking up the King’s highway.
If you’re not walking,
start while I’m talking.
There’ll be a blessing
you’ll be possessing,
walking up the King’s highway.

Video

Sunday Gospel Reflections

Epiphany
Reading I: Is 60:1-6 II: Eph 3:2-3,3:5-6

Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
² "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
⁵ They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
⁶ 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;
⁸ and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
¹¹ and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Interesting Details

(v.1) Herod was appointed King of the Jews by the Roman senate in 40 B.C. He was cunning politically, cruel to his family, and famous for constructing massive buildings and fortresses. When the Magi asked for the newborn "King of the Jews" (v.2) which was official title of Herod, Herod was afraid of a rival.
(v.1, 11) The Magi were a priestly caste in Persia. Their knowledge of astrology probably came from Babylon, and their gifts from Arabia. Because of three gifts, tradition settled on three Magi, eventually named Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Caspar also became a black. They represent the whole diverse Gentile world.
(v.5) Bethlehem, a small town five miles south of Jerusalem, was the ancestral home of David. Jesus' birth there indicates that he is "Son of David."
(v.11) The meanings of the gifts:
1. Gold: a precious metal reserved only for royalty. Jesus is king.
2. Frankincense: a favorite part of religious rituals. Its smoke rises like prayer. Jesus is God.
3. Myrrh: used to heal and embalm a dead body. Jesus is man, whose suffering saves the world.

One Main Point

THE REVELATION OF GOD TO THE WORLD.
The Magi from around the world search for Jesus and pay him homage, while Herod only pretends to do so. At the beginning of the Gospel, these Gentile Astrologers point to the conclusion of the Gospel, when the disciples pay Jesus homage, and Jesus told them to "make disciples of all the Gentiles." (28:17-20)

Reflections

By what signs do I recognize Jesus? How do I feel when I recognize these signs? Then what do I do?
Have I looked for and found Jesus? What does Jesus look like? What does he say?
What gifts do I bring Jesus? How does Jesus receive my gifts?

Information: Epiphany of the Lord

Feast Day: January 6

Information: St. Andre Bessett

Feast Day: January 6

Born: 9 August 1845 near Montreal, Canada

Died: 6 January 1937

Beatified: 23 May 1982 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized: 17 October 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, January 6

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the optional memorial of St. André
Bessette, religious. Through the intercession of
St. Joseph, Andre was able to cure many of the
sick that came seeking his help. He died in
1937.

Catholic Culture

Christmas: January 6th

The Epiphany of the Lord

MASS READINGS

January 06, 2019 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray, shed its light upon our hearts, that we may pass through the shadows of this world and reach the brightness of our eternal home. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Old Calendar: Epiphany of the Lord

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. "The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power." With these words the Church proclaims that today's feast brings to a perfect fulfillment all the purposes of Advent. Epiphany, therefore, marks the liturgical zenith of the Advent-Christmas season. — Pius Parsch

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated either on January 6 or, according to the decision of the episcopal conference, on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8. The young Messiah is revealed as the light of the nations. Yet, as the antiphon for the Magnificat at Second Vespers reminds us, three mysteries are encompassed in this solemnity: the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and the wedding feast at Cana. Extra candles and/or lamps may be placed around the sanctuary and in other parts of the church to honor Christ revealed as the Light of the Gentiles (Ceremonial of Bishops). It is customary to replace the images of the shepherds at the crib with the three Magi and their gifts. — Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Msgr. Peter J. Elliott, Ignatius Press.

The feast of St. Andre Bessette, which is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

The feast of the Epiphany, which was kept in the East and in certain Western Churches before being observed in Rome, seems to have been originally a feast of the nativity; January 6, for those churches where it was kept, was the equivalent of Christmas (December 25) in the Roman Church. The feast was introduced at Rome in the second half of the sixth century and became the complement and, so to say, the crown of the Christmas festival.

Epiphany means manifestation. What the Church celebrates today is the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world; after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem He is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. Christian tradition has ever seen in the Magi the first fruits of the Gentiles; they lead in their wake all the peoples of the earth, and thus the Epiphany is an affirmation of universal salvation. St. Leo brings out this point admirably in a sermon, read at Matins, in which he shows in the adoration of the Magi the beginnings of Christian faith, the time when the great mass of the heathen sets off to follow the star which summons it to seek its Saviour.

That is the meaning, too, of the wonderful prophecy from Isaias which the liturgy appoints to be read in the first nocturn at Matins and at the Epistle of the Mass. This same thought of universal redemption the Church returns to as she sings, in the antiphon to the Magnificat at 2nd Vespers, applying the words to herself, of the union with Christ typified by the wedding feast at Cana, by the baptism of her children foreshadowed by that of Christ in the waters of the Jordan. Formerly the Epiphany was an additional day for solemn baptisms.

Solemnity of the Epiphany - Day Thirteen
Epiphany is a large celebration, especially in Spanish speaking countries. Things look different around the household: the infant Jesus in the manger now has a small gold crown and is wearing regal robes. The figures of the wise men have reached Bethlehem, completing the nativity scene.

The Church extends itself on Epiphany to the homes of the faithful. The custom of blessing the home on this day probably originated from these words in the Gospel, "And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary, His Mother, and falling down they adored Him." The priest blesses the house if he can be present, but if not, the father of the family may do so.

Day Thirteen activity (Epiphany Party)
Day Thirteen recipe (Twelfth Day Cake)

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Matthew 2:1-12

The Epiphany of the Lord (Solemnity)

They saw the child. (Matthew 2:11)

An epiphany is a sudden realization about the nature or meaning of something. The birth of a child can be an epiphany that suddenly makes us understand love and responsibility in a new way. A doctor’s warning about health issues can be an epiphany that causes us to change the way we eat. And a Scripture passage, homily, or spiritual book can be an epiphany that helps us see Jesus in an unexpected, new way.

The Greek word epiphania means “manifestation.” Today, on Epiphany Sunday, we celebrate how God manifested his glory to the Magi. First, they saw a star and chose to follow it all the way to Jesus. Second, when they found Jesus, the Magi knelt down to worship him and pay him homage. Third, the Magi went home changed.

This pattern can be the same for your life. God visits the earth on a daily basis. You might say he never left! Every day he stands at the door of your heart and asks, “Can I come in?” (Revelation 3:20). The Magi didn’t have to follow the star. They chose to follow the star. You have the same choice to open the door to God.

When the Magi saw Jesus’ divinity, they worshipped him. Today, while you are at Mass, let the divinity of Christ move you to worship. Contemplate who Jesus is and all that he has done for you. Kneel before him—baby in a manger or Savior on a cross—and let joy and gratitude fill you, just as the Magi experienced.

Finally, the Magi were changed by what they saw. We know they changed routes to avoid Herod. But even more, imagine how hard it was for them to go home and return to “normal.” They had seen the glory of God, and nothing would be the same again!

Your life can be changed by this very pattern: seeing and worshipping Jesus and receiving a new insight from the Spirit will always improve the way you think, act, and relate to other people.

“Lord, I ask you for an epiphany today. Jesus, help me see you anew.”

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

Daily Gospel Commentary

Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Meditations for the octave of Epiphany, no.1

"They saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage"

The magi find a poor young woman with a poor child wrapped in poor linen bands... and yet, on entering this cave, they feel a joy never experienced before... The divine Infant's expression lights up: sign of the loving delight with which he welcomes them as the first conquest of his redeeming work. Then the holy kings turn their eyes to Mary, who does not speak, remaining silent; yet her face, reflecting joy and shining with a heavenly sweetness, confirms that she welcomes them and is grateful to them for being the first to recognise her Son for who he is: their Sovereign Lord...

O Child so worthy of our love, I see you lying on the straw in this cave, so poor and despised. Yet faith teaches me that you are my God come down from heaven for my salvation. I acknowledge you as my Sovereign Lord and Savior, as such I proclaim you, yet I have nothing at all to offer you. I am without love's gold since I have given my love to the things of this world – I have only loved my own whim rather than loving you, so infinitely worthy of love. I am without prayer's incense since I have lived wretchedly without thinking of you. I have no myrrh of mortification since, so as not to forsake some paltry pleasures, I have so often saddened your infinite goodness. So what am I to offer you? O my Jesus, I offer you my heart, soiled and naked as it is. Take it and change it, for you have come down to us to wash our guilty hearts with your blood and so transform us from sinners into saints. O grant me that gold, incense and myrrh that I lack. Grant me the gold of your holy love; grant me the incense that is the spirit of prayer; grant me myrrh, the willingness and strength to deny myself in all that displeases you...

O holy Virgin, you welcomed those devout magi kings with keen affection and satisfied them. Deign to welcome and comfort me also: I who come, following their example, to visit and offer myself to your Son.

A Christian Pilgrim

THE APPEARANCE OF JESUS IN OUR WORLD

(A biblical reflection on THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, Sunday, 6 January 2019)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms: Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6

The Scripture Text

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern My people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found Him bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him.” 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-12 RSV)

Epiphany means “manifestation” or “appearance”. In Greek mythology, this word describes a time when a god appeared among human beings. Thus, it is appropriate that we use the term for Jesus’ appearance in our world.

Matthew’s Gospel is the only one containing the popular story about the wise men who follow a star to Bethlehem in search of a newborn king. Finding the house where Jesus and His parents are staying, they pay homage and give the child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The rich symbolism in this story deserves our close attention.

The Star: Ancient people believed a new star appeared in the sky each time a child was born. Consequently, when they spotted an extra bright star they concluded someone important had been born, someone who would outshine everyone else. This was certainly true of Jesus.

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh: A loyal subject who had an audience with the king did not approach him empty handed but brought gifts to show appreciation for receiving such a great honor. Failing to do so would have been a breach of etiquette. Because a gift should reflect the importance of the person who receives it, only the best and most expensive gifts (like gold, frankincense, and myrrh) were good enough for a king. Gold, the most precious of metals, was especially valuable because it was so rare. Frankincense and myrrh, on the other hand, were perfumes only the rich could afford because merchants had to import them from distant lands.

Bethlehem: Many Jewish people thought the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, the city King David came from, because the Messiah was to be one of David’s descendants. Like David, the Messiah would be a military/political leader who would bring peace and prosperity.

The Wise Men: The words “magi” and “magician” (“one who has secret knowledge”) both come from the Greek word magoi, a word that originally referred to the educated priestly class in Persia but later described any knowledgeable individual. Because magoi had nothing to do with royalty, we shouldn’t call Jesus’ visitors kings, but wise men. Being from the East (areas like Arabia or Mesopotamia), these men were not Jewish. Matthew carefully chose all these symbolic details to tell us Jesus was not just an important individual but was also the Messiah-King whom many of the Jews were eagerly awaiting. Including the Gentile visitors may have been Matthew’s way of saying the Messiah would be for all people, not just the Jews.

The three wise men gave the best gifts they could possibly give to the child Jesus. If Jesus were born today, what gift would we (you and I) bring?

(Adapted from Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 16-17)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing that Your plan of salvation is meant for everyone, including myself. Help all those who are searching for You to find the light of truth in Your Son Jesus. Amen.

The Gospel in Pictures