Feast of the Epiphany

On this feast, the Church celebrates the manifestation (epiphany) of Christ to the Nations (Gentiles) in the persons of the Magi—also known as the Wise Men or the Three Kings. In earlier times, this feast combined two other manifestations, that which took place at the Lord’s Baptism, and that which took place in Cana at the Wedding feast. This is still the custom in Eastern Christianity.

What does “epiphany” mean?

Epiphany has several meanings, including “manifestation” or “sudden insight.” In the context of the feast it means that the God-man Jesus Christ was manifested to the world, as represented by the Magi and the different peoples from whom they came.

Although the date of the Epiphany on the General Calendar of the Church is January 6th, in the United States and some other countries it is celebrated on the Sunday after January 1st so more Catholics can participate. Thus, in 2024 the Solemnity of the Epiphany is Sunday, January 7.

“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.” — St. Peter Chrysologus

Who Were the Magi or Wise Men?

The word “magi” is of Persian origin, and refers to a class of men who were priests-scientists-philosophers rolled into one. Different ancient societies used different names but all had some intellectual class which sought knowledge and truth, even though much of what they possessed was corrupted by sin and error. Nonetheless, through the means to which they were accustomed, such as reading “signs” in nature, God drew them to true knowledge, in this case, the knowledge of Himself and of the Christ.

According to tradition, their names were Balthasar (from Arabia), Melchior (from Persia), and Caspar (from India).

Was there a “Fourth” Wise Man?
No, Scripture tell us of only three Wise Men. A “fourth” Wise Man is a literary creation, that has been popularized in books, plays, and film.

What are the three gifts of the Three Kings?
The Magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Baby Jesus.

St. John Chrysostom said, “For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honor of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man.”

Which King brought which gift?
According to tradition, Melchior brought the gold; Caspar gave frankincense; and Balthazar brought myrrh.

When did the Three Kings arrive?
We are not sure of the exact timing. However, we know that the Wise Men were not present at the Nativity, when Jesus was born. Some scholars believe that the Holy Family remained in Bethlehem for some time before fleeing to Egypt, but given that Herod had all newborns under 2 years of age killed, Jesus was certainly under two.

Is the Three Kings a true story?
Yes. We have the testimony of Matthew to support its truth.

Is Epiphany the 12th day of Christmas?

Yes, but this is not the final day of the Christmas season. The Twelve Days between Christmas and the Epiphany complete the celebration of the Nativity and the events directly connected to it.

When is the last day of Christmas?
In the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite the last day of the Christmas Season is the Baptism of Our Lord, when His hidden life ended and His public ministry began. The following day the Church begins “Ordinary Time.”

What is the significance of Epiphany in Christianity?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 528) says,

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”).

“How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and shed, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child? And at this the evangelist was hinting when he said, ‘Lo, the star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.'” – St. John Chrysostom

Why Do We Give Christmas Gifts?

Different cultures have different explanations for the giving of gifts. Some base it on the story of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who secretly gave bags of gold to cover the doweries of the daughters of the poor. His feast day is December 6th and this is often the occasion for giving gifts to children. He is also the origin of the Santa Claus tradition associated with Christmas itself. Other cultures give gifts at Christmas or Epiphany in imitation of the Three Wise Men, who gave gifts to the Child Jesus, as we see in Matthew 2:1-12.

Whichever tradition a family follows, we should always keep in mind that we are the recipients of the greatest Gift, Christ Himself, and the Salvation He provides.

What gifts can we give to Jesus?
Jesus wants us to grow closer to Him, so our gifts should reflect this goal. We can pray more, read Sacred Scripture, go to Confession, forgive someone, or break a sinful habit.

How do we celebrate Three Kings Day?
There are many ways to celebrate Epiphany, including blessing your house (see next question and answer), eating King cakes, and having a Twelfth Night party on the eve of Epiphany. It is still appropriate, even encouraged, to sing carols and celebrate the Christmas season on Epiphany. The best way, of course, is to participate in the liturgy, receiving Christ’s gift of Himself in Holy Communion, and offering ourselves to Him in return.

 
Reference EWTN