The Second Day Within The Octave Of The Epiphany. 7 January.

Text taken from The Liturgical Year, 
by Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Translated from the French by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B.

Volume 3.
Christmas - Book II.

Adoration of the Magi.

Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi.

Photo: Alexander R. Pruss.

Current location: National Gallery of Art, 

Washington, DC. America.

This File: 23 November 2007.

User: User:Jan Arkesteijn.

(Wikimedia Commons)

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 one 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 principal Patron; whereas Feasts of 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 (Editor: Bethlehem translates as The House of Bread), there to offer our gifts to the Divine Infant, to Whom the star has led the Wise Men.

Adoration of the Magi.

Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682).

Date: 1655 - 1660.

Current location: Toledo Museum of Art,

Ohio, United States.

Source/Photographer: JAFwsBSXui7rdg at Google Cultural Institute.

(Wikimedia Commons)

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 to 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.

English: The Magi Journeying.

Français: Les rois mages en voyage.

Artist: James Tissot (1836–1902).

Date: Between 1886 and 1894.

Current location: Brooklyn Museum, United States.

Credit line: Purchased by public subscription.

Source/Photographer: Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum;

Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2006, 00.159.30_PS1.jpg.

(Wikimedia Commons)

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 Noe.

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, the greater seemed the blindness of the Gentile world.

Mont Sainte-Odile, Alsace, France,

otherwise known as Hohenburg Abbey.

The following image of The Three Magi (see, below)

was originally created in Hohenburg Abbey.

Photo: 29 June 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: Mattana.

(Wikimedia Commons)

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 shall see further on; as such, they were prefigured by those three faithful Kings who were the glory of the throne of Juda, 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 Messias; 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 the wisdom of Solomon, 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 Messias.

Herrad of Landsberg (1130 - 1195) was a 12th-Century Alsatian Nun and Abbess of Hohenburg Abbey, in the Vosges mountains, France. She is known as the author of the pictorial encyclopaedia Hortus Deliciarum (The Garden of Delights). Herrad of Landsberg was born about 1130 at the Castle of Landsberg, the seat of a noble Alsatian family. She entered Hohenburg Abbey in the Vosges mountains, about fifteen miles from Strasbourg, at an early age. She became Abbess there in 1167 and continued in that Office until her death.

These illustrations are from a reproduction by Christian Maurice Engelhardt, 1818. The original perished in the burning of the Library of Strasbourg during the siege of 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War. The text was copied and published by Straub and Keller, 1879-1899.

Date: 1818.

Source: Hortus Deliciarum.

Author: Made at the Hohenburg Abbey, France, 1185 by Herrad of Landsberg (1130 - 1195) These illustrations are from a reproduction by Christian Maurice Engelhardt, 1818.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Thus, O Jesus !, during the long and dark night, in which the justice of Thy Father left this sinful world, did the gleams of grace appear in the heavens, portending the rising of that Sun of Thine 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 Thyself we now possess; and though we wear not royal crowns upon our heads, like the Magi and the Queen of Saba, yet Thou receivest us with love.

The very first to be invited to Thy Crib, there to receive Thy teachings, were simple Shepherds. Every member of the human family is called to form part of Thy Court. Having become a Child, Thou hast opened the treasures of Thine infinite wisdom to all men. What gratitude do we not owe for this gift of the Light of Faith, without which we would know nothing, even whilst flattering ourselves that we know all things ! How narrow and uncertain and deceitful is human science, compared with that which has its source in Thee !

May we ever prize this immense gift of Faith, this Light, O Jesus !, which Thou makest to shine upon us, after having softened it under the veil of Thy humble Infancy. Preserve us from Pride, which darkens the Soul's vision and dries up the heart. Confide us to the keeping of Thy Blessed Mother; and my our love attach us for ever to Thee, and her Maternal eye ever watch over us lest we should leave Thee, O Thou the God of our hearts !

Let us now listen to the Hymns and Prayers of the several Churches in praise of the Mysteries of the glorious Epiphany.