NEWSLETTER
January 8, 2012: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (B) White
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GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 2:1-12 |
CHURCH CALENDAR January 9 – The Lord’s Baptism Christian Meditation 4:30 pm at the Immaculata Hall, 2nd floor ROLP January 10 – Start of Ordinary Time and continues through Tuesday, February 21, the day before Ash Wednesday January 15 – Feast of the Sto. Niño, Proper Feast in the Philippines |
EPIPHANY
“Epiphany” means manifestation. The birth of Jesus is meant not only for the people of Israel but also for all nations, represented by the magi or the “Three Kings”. The Lord is God of all peoples, and Jesus comes to save all men and women.
Epiphany is celebrated with a wide array of customs around the world. In some cultures, the greenery and nativity scenes put up at Christmas are taken down at Epiphany. In other cultures these remain up until Candlemas on February 2. In countries historically shaped by Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism) these customs often involve gift giving, "king cakes" and a celebratory close to the Christmas season. In traditionally Orthodox nations, these celebrations typically center around water, baptismal rites and house blessings.
In the Philippines, the long Christmas season traditionally ends on this day, known colloquially as "Three Kings" or "Tres Reyes" (Filipino: Tatlong Hari). Filipino children also leave their shoes out, so that the Kings will leave behind gifts like candy or money inside. Most others on this day simply greet one another with the phrase "Happy Three Kings!". In some localities, there is the practice of having three men, dressed as the Tatlong Hari, ride around on horseback, distributing trinkets and candy to the children of the area. The collective name for the group is immortalized as the Filipino surname Tatlonghari. Meanwhile the Spanish name for Epiphany has survived to the present in the Philippines as the masculine given name Epifanio (e.g. Epifanio de los Santos). Due to American influence the position of the Three Kings as gift-givers is slowly being supplanted by Santa Claus.
Movable Feasts for 2012
| Epiphany | January 8 |
| Ash Wednesday | February 22 |
| Easter Sunday | April 8 |
| Ascension | May 20 |
| Pentecost | May 27 |
| Holy Trinity | June 3 |
| Corpus Christi | June 10 |
| Sacred Heart | June 15 |
| Christ the King | November 25 |


