Dear Parishioners:
This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, the “manifestation” of the Christ-child to the whole world. This feast is also often referred to as “Little Christmas.” In Europe, this is the day in which gifts are exchanged because this is the day the Wise Men, the Magi, gave their gifts to the Christ-child.
This feast is celebrated more enthusiastically in most European countries. In Cologne, Germany, the relics of the Wise Men will be shown to the people at a Solemn Mass. In England, in the Royal Chapel, Queen Elizabeth will offer gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to a child. In Spain, there will be parades complete with the Wise Men riding on camels into the various Cathedrals. In Poland, this is a traditional time for all the parish priests to visit every home in their parish and to bless the home for the coming year. In Poland, families mark the wood over the front doors of their homes in this way:
20 + C + M + B + 26
It is the year 2026 separated by Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, the three Wise Men. Sadly, we have lost many of these customs in the United States. But these traditional customs help us to remember what Christmas is about and who we are: the adopted brothers and sisters of Jesus.
On this day, members of the Greek Orthodox Church participate in the great “Blessing of the Waters.” After the Divine Liturgy, there is a procession from the Church to the beach, lake, etc. The Orthodox priest blesses the water by tossing a cross into the water. Men dive in to retrieve the cross. The person who finds the cross first and swims back receives a special blessing for the person and for his family. The water blessed this day is known as “theophany water” and is used by people to bless themselves and their homes.
I am sure that we all know the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The Feast of the Epiphany marks the end of the twelve days of Christmas, though the official end of the Christmas season is not until next weekend, when we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Before Vatican II, the official end of the Christmas season was February 2nd, known then as “Candlemas Day.”
We also began a new year. I hope and pray that 2026 will be a year filled with much health, happiness and, especially, holiness. I challenge each and every one of us, day by day, to make the decision to draw closer to God. In Pre-Cana, we always tell the engaged couples that “love is a decision,” it is not simply a feeling. Love means doing sacrificial actions for our spouse, even when we don’t “feel” like doing it! We make the decision to love. I pray that you and I make the decision to draw closer to God and to love Him more dearly this year. Through our intentional increased prayer and good works, we will draw closer to the Christ who loved us so much that he died for us. Blessed New Year to your families!
Remember: Together, we can do something beautiful for God.
In Christ,
Fr. Brian