Blessing of your home, Three Kings Parade on the Feast of the Epiphany
The Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of Christmas. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Epiphany celebrates the revelation to the Three Wise Men that Jesus was the Son of God, but the day also celebrates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan and the wedding at Cana.
It is not a Holy of Obligation but is always held the Sunday after Jan. 1 so Catholics attend Mass on the day.
Jersey Catholic sat down with Father John Gordon, Secretary for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark, to discuss the Feast of the Epiphany.
JC: Why do we, as Catholics, celebrate the three events together?
We look at epiphany as having a threefold kind of expression. Epiphany means manifestation. We look at three events as a representative of that. The first one being the wisemen, the magi. The second being the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan. And the third, the wedding feast at Cana. All three make some statement of revelation about who Jesus is.
JC: What is the significance of the gifts?
The wisemen were Gentiles. And so, Jesus is shown forth to the nations. The Gentiles represent all the nations. Remember the gifts of the of the magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is traditionally attributed to Jesus because he is King. Frankincense attributed to the Lord Jesus because He is God. And myrrh, which is often used for anointing the dead, is given to Jesus in honor of His being a man.
JC: Are there any traditions Catholics follow in addition to going to Mass?
There is the blessing of homes because the magi came to the home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and so we pray for God’s blessings. People will write a blessing — 20+C+M+B+23 — with chalk over their doors. The 20 and the 23 stand for the year and the letters are for the three wise men — Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. At Mass, they may give out blessed chalk. Anyone can do the blessing it doesn’t have to be a priest.
On Saturday, Jan.7, Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair will hold a Three Kings Parade with live camels, 2-4 p.m. at 30 N. Fullerton Ave.
Jaimie Julia Winters is editor of Jersey Catholic, Archdiocese of Newark.
Featured photos: The Feast of the Epiphany is not a Holy of Obligation but is always held the Sunday after Jan. 1 so Catholics attend Mass on the day. (Kimberly Cruz Medinilla Lacava/ Cathopic)
