Dom Prosper Guéranger:
A Solemnity of such importance as the Epiphany could not be without an Octave. The only Octaves during the year that are superior to this of the Epiphany are those of Easter and Pentecost. It has a privilege which the Octave of Christmas has not, for no Feast can be kept during the Octave of the Epiphany unless it be that of a Patron of first class, whereas Feasts of a double and semi-double rite are admitted during the Christmas Octave. It would even seem, judging from the ancient Sacramentaries, that anciently the two days immediately following the Epiphany were Days of Obligation, as were the Monday and Tuesday of Easter and Whitsuntide. The names of the Stational Churches are given where the Clergy and Faithful of Rome assembled on these two days.
In order that we may the more fully enter into the spirit of the Church during this glorious Octave, we will contemplate each day the Mystery of the Vocation of the Magi, and we will enter, together with them, into the holy cave of Bethlehem, there to offer our gifts to the Divine Infant to whom the star has led the Wise Men.
These Magi are the harbingers of the conversion of all nations to the Lord their God. They are the Fathers of the Gentiles in the faith of the Redeemer that is come: they are the Patriarchs of the human race regenerated. They arrive at Bethlehem, according to the tradition of the Church, three in number, and this tradition is handed down by Saint Leo, by Saint Maximus of Turin, by Saint Cesarius of Arles, and by the Christian paintings in the Catacombs of Rome, which paintings belong to the period of the Persecutions.
Thus is continued in the Magi the Mystery prefigured by the three just men at the very commencement of the world: Abel, who by his death, was the figure of Christ; Seth, who was the father of the children of God, as distinct from the family of Cain, and Enos, who had the honour of regulating the ceremonies and solemnity to be observed in man’s worship of His Creator.
The Magi also continued in their own person that other Mystery of the three new parents of the human family after the Deluge, and from whom all races have sprung: Sem, Cham and Japheth, the Sons of Noah.
And, thirdly, we behold in the Magi that third Mystery of the three fathers of God’s chosen people: Abraham, the Father of believers; Isaac, another figure of Christ immolated, and Jacob, who was strong against God (Genesis xxxii. 28) and was the father of the twelve Patriarchs of Israel.
All these were but the receivers of the Promise, although the hope of mankind, both according to nature and grace, rested on them. They, as the Apostle says of them, saluted the accomplishment of that Promise afar-off (Hebrews xi. 13). The Nations did not follow them by serving the true God. Nay, the greater the light that shone on Israel, and the greater seemed the blindness of the Gentile world. The three Magi, on the contrary, come to Bethlehem and they are followed by countless generations. In them the figure becomes the grand reality thanks to the mercy of our Lord, who having come to find what was lost, vouchsafed to stretch out His arms to the whole human race, for the whole was lost.
These happy Magi were also invested with regal power, as we will see further on. As such they were prefigured by those three faithful Kings who were the glory of the throne of Judah, the earnest maintainers among the chosen people of the traditions regarding the future Deliverer, and the strenuous opponents of idolatry: David, the sublime type of the Messiah; Ezechias, whose courageous zeal destroyed the idols, and Josias, who re-established the Law of the Lord which the people had forgotten. And if we would have another type of these holy pilgrims who come from a far distant country of the Gentiles to adore the King of Peace, and offer him their rich presents — the sacred Scripture puts before us the Queen of Saba, also a Gentile, who hearing of the fame of Solomon’s wisdom, whose name means the Peaceful, visits Jerusalem, taking with her the most magnificent gifts — camels laden with gold, spices and precious stones — and venerates, under one of the sublimest of his types, the Kingly character of the Messiah.
Thus, O Jesus, during the long and dark night in which the justice of your Father left this sinful world, did the gleanings of grace appear in the heavens portending the rising of that Sun of your own Justice which would dissipate the shadows of death and establish the reign of Light and Day. But, now, all these shadows have passed away. We no longer need the imperfect light of types: it is yourself we now possess, and though we wear not royal crowns upon our heads like the Magi and the Queen of Saba, yet you receive us with love. The very first to be invited to your crib, there to receive your teachings, were simple shepherds. Every member of the human family is called to form part of your court. Having become a child, you have opened the treasures of your infinite wisdom to all men. What gratitude do we not owe for this gift of the light of Faith without which we should know nothing, even while flattering ourselves that we know all things! How narrow, and uncertain, and deceitful is human science compared with that which has its source in you! May we ever prize this immense gift of Faith, this Light, Jesus, which you make to shine on us after having softened it under the veil of your humble Infancy. Preserve us from pride which darkens the soul’s vision and dries up the heart. Confide us to the keeping of your Blessed Mother, and may our love attach us for ever to you and her maternal eye ever watch over us lest we should leave you, O God of our hearts!
On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
The bringing back of the Child Jesus from Egypt.
The same day, the birthday of blessed Lucian, a
priest of the church of Antioch and martyr, who was distinguished for
his learning and eloquence. He suffered at Nicomedia for the
confession of Christ in the persecution of Galerius Maximian and was
buried at Helenopolis in Bithynia. His praises have been proclaimed
by St. John Chrysostom.
At Antioch, St. Clerus, deacon, who, for having
professed faith in Christ, was seven times tortured, a long while
kept in prison, and at length ended his martyrdom by decapitation.
In the city of Heraclea, the holy martyrs Felix
and Januarius.
The same day, St. Julian, martyr.
In Denmark, St. Canute, king and martyr. His feast
is celebrated on the nineteenth of this month.
At Pavia, St. Crispin, bishop and confessor.
In Dacia, St. Nicetas, bishop, who made fierce and
barbarous nations humane and meek by preaching the Gospel to them.
In Egypt, St. Theodore, a saintly monk, who
flourished in the time of Constantine the Great. He is mentioned by
St. Athanasius in his Life of St. Anthony.
At Barcelona, St. Raymond of Pennafort, of the
Order of Preachers, celebrated for sanctity and learning. His
festival is kept on the twenty-third of this month.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.