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NEWSLETTER
January 8, 2012: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (B) White

GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod, 
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage."
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled, 
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, 
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel."
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
"Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage."
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures 
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 
they departed for their country by another way.

CHURCH CALENDAR
January 8 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord

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 CatholicismProtestantism) 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