Feast of The Epiphany

Today is the 12th day of Christmas in our liturgical year and for most Catholic Christians brings us full circle in the celebration of Our Lord's Birth as the Three Wise Men finally reach their desitnation. We call this The Epiphany.

We have seen His star in the East and have come to adore Him who is called King of the Jews

There is so much symbolism in the Christmas story and as faithful followers of the Church it's important for us to recognize these little nuances as they are presented to us time and again in our liturgy and feasts throughout the year. 

My creative and artistic dd always makes a new star to suspend in mid-air over our creche each Advent so the wise men can more easily navigate their way to the manger.  This year it is a beautiful little star encrusted with many different colors of glitter glue!  Her two middle brothers like to help by adding colored lights all around the creche and shuffling animals and shepherds and angels around throughout the season.  And now here we've finally come to Epiphany, seemingly the end of our Christmas celebration, and three kings are bearing gifts to what they know to be the highest king and Lord of all.  They found Christ amidst all the turmoil that plagued their countries at that time and stopped at nothing to "come and adore Him..." 

The light of Christ shines as brightly today so as to draw us near to him in our everyday lives.  He doesn't want us to consider this the end of the celebration, but rather the beginning.  For me, THAT is to be OUR Epihany.  It can be very subtle, and distant, or maybe for you it's as bright as it was for the three Kings.

Tonight we'll celebrate with a beautiful Gallette de Rois from one of my favorite cookbooks, A Continual Feast by Evelyn Birge Vitz.  I know there will be lots of embellishing with jewel colored gumdrops and candies!  In our domestic church, these are the most revered part of our celebrations and Christs light will be shining brightly for each one of us! 

I wish one and all a blessed Epiphany and may you see the light of Christ wherever you are!    Good Tidings!

Comments

[Karen E.]

I love your beautiful blog! We had a beautiful celebration of the Epiphany today, too. Love your dd's star idea.

And as for those homemade marshmallows you posted about ... oh, my kids mouths will be watering as soon as I mention the plan. :-)

[AliceG]

I was thinking about having the children make crowns for the Sunday Feast tomorrow, but you've inspired me to have them collaborate on a star. Fortunately, I have tons of glitter glue around!

This will be great!