The Feast Of The Epiphany – January 6th – Holy Day of Obligation

… commemorating the visit of the wise men to worship the baby Jesus. Tradition tells us that their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthassar.  The men were astrologers who were looking for the star that would lead them to the promised Messiah. This was prophesied in the Book of Micah.

The word Epiphany comes from the Greek and means “manifestation.” It is the manifestation of the Child King to the Magi, the magicians of the East, and symbolically to all people, therefore also to all of us. This revelation causes great joy, the adoration of the Magi and the offering of precious gifts. Gold, incense and myrrh express the royalty of Christ, manifest his lordship and prophesy the passion, death and resurrection.

On January 6th, we also celebrate two other significant moments in addition to the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem: the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan when he, like all the others, lines up and reveals his humanity to us, and the first miracle at Cana, where he manifests his provident care by transforming water into wine.

For this reason, Epiphany is among the most important solemnities of the liturgical calendar and offers us the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of God’s glory revealed to the world.

Mass Times in Patrickswell & Ballybrown for the Holy Day