Catholic All Week

The Epiphany of the Lord, which in 2025 will be celebrated on Jan. 5 in the United States, celebrates the revelation to the Gentiles that Jesus is the Son of God through the visit of the Magi, or Three Wise Men. In the Eastern tradition where the feast originated, Epiphany – or Theophany as it is called there – commemorates the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. In the Western Church, the celebration primarily focuses on the visit of the Magi. As the rest of the world all-too-rapidly moves past the beauty of Christmas, Epiphany gives us more time to reflect on how Jesus is made manifest in our own homes and lives.

Let us eat cake

King Cake, also known as Three Kings Cake, is a culinary treat associated with Epiphany in many countries. Although the ingredients vary widely, almost all have a fève, or small trinket, hidden inside that represents the Magi’s search for the Christ Child. The fève itself varies from country to country, ranging from a bean, coin or almond to a small figure of the infant Jesus. The person who finds the fève traditionally gets a prize. While most of us in the United States associate King Cake with Mardi Gras, the dessert is traditionally served from Epiphany through Carnival in Louisiana. Bake your own version with recipes found at Catholic Cuisine.

Come bearing gifts

The Three Wise Men brought gifts to the Christ Child, and in many cultures, the tradition of giving gifts on this day continues. Just as the gifts of the Magi had deeper meanings, consider a gift that speaks to your family and faith. Gold, a symbol of wealth and power, identifies the recipient as a king. Frankincense, the crystallized sap of a tree used as incense and as an offering, is symbolic of prayer. Myrrh, another resinous tree sap, was used in healing and as an embalming ointment. This gift foreshadowed Jesus’ death. Some families and cultures have a custom of giving three gifts to reflect these biblical offerings.

Bless your home

Did you know that it’s traditional to bless your home on Epiphany? This practice stems from the biblical reference to the three kings entering the home where the Holy Family was staying to worship the Christ Child. Start with a short service that you can find online here. Then use blessed chalk to write the letters C, M and B plus the year above your home’s main entrance or interior doors in this format: 20 + C + M + B + 25. The + represents the cross while the letters are the initials of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They are also an abbreviation for the Latin “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means: “May Christ bless the house.” It’s a beautiful way to usher in a New Year filled with blessings.

 

Catholic All Week

The idea of pilgrimage is central to the upcoming Jubilee Year of Hope. Pilgrimages represent a journey of spiritual renewal. Visiting holy sites enables people to interact closely with places of historical religious significance – deepening their connection with God and experiencing a sense of community with fellow believers who are walking the same literal and spiritual path. However, there are times when health, finances or life circumstances prevent people from making a physical pilgrimage. Here are a few sites on the Jubilee Year itineraries that you don’t have to leave home to experience, thanks to their innovative online presences:

The largest church in the world

According to tradition, the tomb in which the Apostle Peter was buried after his crucifixion was on the highest point of Vatican Hill. It was on that spot that Emperor Constantine built St. Peter’s Basilica in the fourth century in what is now Vatican City. Many of the greatest artists in history – Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo – were involved in the construction and decoration of this structure, the largest church in the world. The Vatican recently teamed up with Microsoft to create a stunningly accurate 3D basilica replica powered by artificial intelligence. It combines more than 400,000 photos into a seamless virtual experience through which you can see every inch of the holy space – including intricate details most visitors would never see in person.

The oldest western Marian shrine

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to the Patrician John and Pope Liberius, telling them to build a church on the spot where she would cause snow to fall. On the morning of Aug. 5, 358, snow was seen on the Esquiline Hill, outlining the perimeter of what was to become the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The basilica is home to one of the most important Marian icons, the “Salus Populi Romani” (“Our Lady Savior of the Roman People”). Tradition attributes the artwork to St. Luke the Evangelist, patron of painters. Pope Francis visits the icon before and after his apostolic journeys. The relic of the holy crib – the bedding on which the baby Jesus was laid – is under the papal altar, and the mortal remains of St. Matthew and St. Jerome are in this church. The basilica offers in-depth descriptions and photos as well as a podcast discussing many of its treasures on its website.

The mother of all churches

The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Sts. John the Baptist and the Evangelist, better known as St. John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome – making it the official seat of its bishop, Pope Francis. It is the oldest of the four papal basilicas and stands over the ruins of a Roman cavalry fort. From the 4th to the 14th century, St. John Lateran was the seat of the papacy, thus becoming the symbol and the heart of the Church’s life. It was also the site of the original Holy Door. Today, online visitors can take a virtual reality tour of the world’s only archbasilica on the Vatican’s website or see it in one of countless online video tours.

Catholic All Week

Advent is a season about so much more than a wreath decorated with four candles and a calendar filled with sweet treats. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the goal of Advent is to make present for ourselves and our families the “ancient expectancy of the Messiah ... by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming.” Although Christ has already come into the world, the Church invites us to use this time to renew our desires for the Lord to be present more deeply in our lives and for Christ’s triumphant second coming into the world. Here are a few ways we can use this season to prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas.

Find your answers

Where does the word “Advent” come from? Why is one of the candles in the Advent wreath pink – and where did the tradition of an Advent wreath originate? What is a Jesse tree and how do you make one? What are the Great “O” Antiphons? How long is Advent? Whether your questions about this season are simple or complex, there are a wealth of online resources that we have compiled at www.catholicnewsherald.com to answer them. Browse our website at your leisure to deepen your spiritual journey and learn something new this Advent.

Celebrate feasts and solemnities

While the focus of Advent is looking forward to Christ’s arrival at Christmas – “Advent” comes from the Latin “adventus,” which means “arrival” – there are three additional feasts and solemnities to honor in this season. The Feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6 honors the saint whose story was the basis for Santa Claus. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (this year, on Dec. 9) celebrates the doctrine that Mary was conceived completely free of original sin. St. Lucy’s Day on Dec. 13 commemorates a fourth-century virgin martyr who, according to legend, brought food to Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs, wearing a candle-lit wreath on her head to light her way.

Explore your faith

Did you know the Diocese of Charlotte offers free, video-based adult faith formation online through Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute? You can deepen your faith and prepare your heart to encounter Christ this Christmas through “Following Jesus: The Challenge of Discipleship.” This workshop helps us come to know the person of Jesus as our one essential need. It benefits everyone, no matter where they are on their faith journey, as they walk through this season. Through this and other workshops, the CI provides solid Catholic content in a manner that is both substantive and engaging, offering personal formation that is human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral.