{"id":106118,"date":"2021-01-06T11:04:03","date_gmt":"2021-01-06T19:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/?p=106118"},"modified":"2021-01-06T11:06:54","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T19:06:54","slug":"epiphany-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Epiphany! (Probably)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

H<\/span>appy Epiphany, probably! In much of the world, and for much of time, today is celebrated as the great Solemnity of the Epiphany, even if many in the United States and Canada celebrated it this past Sunday. In a sense, the Feast of the Epiphany is the culmination (if not quite the end) of the Christmas Season. It was once a much more celebrated feast than it is now. In fact, it once had its own Octave. Like many others, I’d love to see that restored<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the popular imagination, the Feast of the Epiphany is all about the Magi from the East who traveled to worship the Christ child and gift him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But that’s not the whole story, for the Epiphany actually celebrates three separate events, only one of which is Magi with their three gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my Monastic Diurnal<\/a><\/em>, this morning’s Benedictus<\/em> antiphon speaks of all three:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Benedictus<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Each of these events is an epiphany:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. In the River Jordan, Christ is revealed as the Son of God.<\/li>
  2. In the story of the pilgrim Magi, Christ is revealed as the Light to the Gentiles.<\/li>
  3. In the wedding feast at Cana, Christ is revealed as a Worker of Miracles.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Notice first the thread throughout of the wedding of Christ the bridegroom with the Church, His spouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then take a look at these three epiphanies. It’s as if Christ is teaching us who He is a step at a time; as our understanding deepens, a new revelation is granted us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And really, if you look at Salvation history, this is exactly how God operates, bringing along His people step by step into a deeper understanding and an ever more moral and spiritual state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    God teaches us as a Father should, by bringing us along bit by bit. You need to know your letters before you can learn to read. You need to know how to read before you can learn to write a novel. Step by step. Epiphany by epiphany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of the beautiful traditions on the Epiphany is the blessing of chalk at Mass, and then the house blessing that follows. You can read more about the tradition here<\/a>. You may have seen something like this chalked above a door:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    +20+C+M+B+21+<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    As the article says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The letters C, M, B<\/span> have two meanings:<\/p>

    \u2022 They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: C<\/span>aspar, M<\/span>elchior, and B<\/span>althazar.
    \u2022 They also abbreviate the Latin words C<\/span>hristus M<\/span>ansionem B<\/span>enedicat<\/em>, \u201cMay Christ bless this house.\u201d<\/p>

    The \u201c+<\/span>\u201d signs represent the cross and 2021 is the year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    The article<\/a> gives the accompanying prayers, though you may also find a longer version in the book Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A very blessed Feast of Epiphany to all of you, whenever you celebrate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    The Epiphany is depicted in a mural titled “Adoration of the Magi” in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at Conception Abbey in Conception, Mo. Painted by Benedictine monks in the late 1800s, the artwork is the first appearance of the German Beuronese style in a U.S. church. <\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Happy Epiphany, probably! In much of the world, and for much of time, today is celebrated as the great Solemnity of the Epiphany, even if many in the United States and Canada celebrated it this past Sunday. In a sense, the Feast of the Epiphany is the culmination (if not quite the end) of the Christmas Season. It was once […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Epiphany! (Probably)","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[46,55,5,15,19,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-annual","category-divine-office","category-holy-days","category-meditations","category-pray","category-seasons"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1846%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1aGBK-rBA","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":83693,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-plus-one\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":0},"title":"Epiphany Plus One","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, we celebrated the great Solemnity of the Epiphany. Traditionally, this feast would have been celebrated today, the 6th of January, but like many other feasts it fell victim to the \"move it to a Sunday\" mania that has gripped the Church these past few decades. For the moment, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Epiphany-300x234.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":101302,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/twelfth-day-of-christmas-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":1},"title":"The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Epiphany Confusion!","author":"Thom","date":"05 January 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I hope you're enjoying your twelve drummers drumming. Depending on what calendar you happen to be using, today might very well be the Epiphany for you. If so, happy Epiphany! Traditionally, though, the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. Since the calendar reforms of 1970, any diocese may choose to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/galette-des-rois.jpg?fit=448%2C336&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":108264,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-weekend\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":2},"title":"Epiphany Weekend!","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"most of the world and through most of the last two millennia, the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated today. Although in the United States, Canada, and a few other places it will be celebrated tomorrow (Sunday). Being Americans, we will celebrate on Sunday. Being Benedictines and following our traditional\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":107531,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/the-epiphany-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":3},"title":"The Epiphany*","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"* Certain restrictions may apply, including location, calendar, and affiliation with religious congregation. most of the world and through most of the last two millennia, the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated today. Although in the United States, Canada, and a few other places it will be celebrated this coming\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110188,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/the-eleventh-day-of-christmas-epiphany-confusion\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":4},"title":"The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Epiphany Confusion!","author":"Thom","date":"04 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I hope you're enjoying your eleven pipers piping. Depending on what calendar you happen to be using, today might very well be the Epiphany for you. If so, happy Epiphany! Traditionally, though, the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6. Since the calendar reforms of 1970, any diocese may choose to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/epiphany.jpg?fit=1200%2C1169&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":86432,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphanyish\/","url_meta":{"origin":106118,"position":5},"title":"It’s the Epiphany! (More or Less)","author":"Thom","date":"03 January 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Happy tenth day of Christmas! Today, we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Epiphany. Traditionally, this feast would have been celebrated on the day following the twelfth day of Christmas, the 6th of January, but like many other feasts it fell victim to the \"move it to a Sunday\" mania\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Annual"","block_context":{"text":"Annual","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/category\/annual\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Epiphany-300x234.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106118"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106121,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106118\/revisions\/106121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}