{"id":110196,"date":"2026-01-06T09:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T17:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/?p=110196"},"modified":"2026-01-06T09:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T17:37:42","slug":"epiphany-again-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-again-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Epiphany! (Again)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span class=\"wpsdc-drop-cap\">H<\/span>appy Epiphany, probably! Unless you live in parts of the United States, January 6 is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. This date represents one of the Church\u2019s oldest liturgical traditions. I am not a fan of transferring feasts in general, and perhaps Epiphany above all, as 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 proper Vigil and an Octave. Like many others, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/frmattfish\/status\/1078446815983423489\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I&#8217;d love to see those restored<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those sorts of decisions, however, are way above my pay grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So instead, let&#8217;s enjoy Chesteron&#8217;s great poem about this day. May you have all the joy of feast, whenever you celebrate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Wise Men<\/strong><br \/><em>by G.K. Chesterton<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Step softly, under snow or rain,<br \/>To find the place where men can pray;<br \/>The way is all so very plain<br \/>That we may lose the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh we have learnt to peer and pore<br \/>On tortured puzzles from our youth,<br \/>We know all the labyrinthine lore,<br \/>We are the three wise men of yore,<br \/>And we know all things but truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have gone round and round the hill<br \/>And lost the wood among the trees,<br \/>And learnt long names for every ill,<br \/>And serve the made gods, naming still<br \/>The furies the Eumenides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gods of violence took the veil<br \/>Of vision and philosophy,<br \/>The Serpent that brought all men bale,<br \/>He bites his own accursed tail,<br \/>And calls himself Eternity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go humbly &#8230; it has hailed and snowed&#8230;<br \/>With voices low and lanterns lit;<br \/>So very simple is the road,<br \/>That we may stray from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The world grows terrible and white,<br \/>And blinding white the breaking day;<br \/>We walk bewildered in the light,<br \/>For something is too large for sight,<br \/>And something much too plain to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Child that was ere worlds begun \u2014<br \/>(&#8230; We need but walk a little way,<br \/>We need but see a latch undone&#8230;)<br \/>The Child that played with moon and sun<br \/>Is playing with a little hay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The house from which the heavens are fed,<br \/>The old strange house that is our own,<br \/>Where trick of words are never said,<br \/>And Mercy is as plain as bread,<br \/>And Honour is as hard as stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go humbly, humble are the skies,<br \/>And low and large and fierce the Star;<br \/>So very near the Manger lies<br \/>That we may travel far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hark! Laughter like a lion wakes<br \/>To roar to the resounding plain.<br \/>And the whole heaven shouts and shakes,<br \/>For God Himself is born again,<br \/>And we are little children walking<br \/>Through the snow and rain.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/happy-epiphany\/magi\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"594\" data-attachment-id=\"35792\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/happy-epiphany\/magi\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?fit=868%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"868,600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"The Magi from the East\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?fit=860%2C594&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?resize=860%2C594\" alt=\"magi\" class=\"wp-image-35792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?w=868&amp;ssl=1 868w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?resize=150%2C103&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?resize=240%2C165&amp;ssl=1 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Happy Epiphany, probably! Unless you live in parts of the United States, January 6 is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. This date represents one of the Church\u2019s oldest liturgical traditions. I am not a fan of transferring feasts in general, and perhaps Epiphany above all, as in a sense, the Feast of the Epiphany is the culmination (if not quite [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35792,"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":"","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":[46,51,5,32,105,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-annual","category-g-k-chesterton","category-holy-days","category-inside-baseball","category-rev-matt-fish","category-seasons"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/magi.jpg?fit=868%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1aGBK-sFm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":106742,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":110196,"position":0},"title":"Epiphany! (Probably)","author":"Thom","date":"02 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is... complicated. Depending on what calendar you happen to be using, today might very well be the great Solemnity of the Epiphany. Or not. 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Annual&quot;","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":101368,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":110196,"position":1},"title":"Epiphany!","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"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. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Annual&quot;","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.jpg?fit=400%2C313&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":109355,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-again-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":110196,"position":2},"title":"Epiphany! (Again)","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"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. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Annual&quot;","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.jpg?fit=400%2C313&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":106118,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":110196,"position":3},"title":"Epiphany! (Probably)","author":"Thom","date":"06 January 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"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)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Annual&quot;","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\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1200%2C780&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1200%2C780&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1200%2C780&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1200%2C780&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/epiphany-001.jpg?fit=1200%2C780&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":110196,"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 &quot;Annual&quot;","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":108264,"url":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/epiphany-weekend\/","url_meta":{"origin":110196,"position":5},"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 &quot;Annual&quot;","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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110196","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=110196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110197,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110196\/revisions\/110197"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomryng.com\/amateurmonk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}