Page 6, 4th January 1946

4th January 1946

Page 6

Page 6, 4th January 1946 — THE FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS
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Locations: Milan, Cologne

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THE FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS

By JOHN HENNIG, Ph.D.
The Feast of the Epiphany has three subjects : the adoration by the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and His first miracle. January 6 wee originally devoted to the commemoration of all the mysteries of the early life of Our Lord, from the Annunciation to His first public appearance. In the first instance. this was the feast of the Nativity.
When in the second halt of the fifth century separate feast of the Nativity of Christ was instituted and assigned to December 25, this collective commemoration made on January 6 was dissolved.
Thus the principal subject of the feast of the Epiphany is now the manifestation of the Saviour to the Gentiles. represented by the Magi. In the Gospel of the day we hear of " the Wise Men coming from the East." While the early Christians assumed that these had been twelve in number, the later European tradition concluded from the words : " They offered him gifts : gold. frankincense and myrrh," that there had been only •hrec Magi.
THE FOUR BLESSINGS The Roman Ritual contains special
forms for the four blessings to be ad ministered in the feast of the Epiphany, i.e., of water, of houses, of incense, and of gold and myrrh. The most curious, and to this day most popular, blessing administered on the feast of the Epiphany is that of chalk. with which the initials of the names traditionally attributed to the " Three holy Kings," namely • C for Caspar, M for Melchoir, and B for Balthasar, were written on the doors of houses, to ward off evil spells.
For eight hundred years past, the city of Cologne has been the centre of German devotion to the three holy Kings. The precious shrine which contains the relics of the Magi in the Cathedral of Cologne is not only one of the finest works of medieval art, but also one of the greatest relics of Catholic Germany.
IN COLOGNE
On July 24 the archdiocese of Cologne celebrates a feast in commemoration of the translation of these relics. The historical account of the tradition of these relics tells us in the words of Archbishop Reinard, to whom Cologne owes those relics. that they were first preseryed in Constantinople. then in Milan, whence. after the conquest of that city through Frederic Barbarossa, they were taken to Cologne, " to the perpetual glory of Germany"
The Office of the feast recalls also the temporary translation of the precious shrine to Arnsberg in Westphalia, when in 1793 the French invaded Germany. One of the principal " authorities " on the early tradition of the three holy Kings was Godefried. a monk of St. Panthaleon's a monastery which in former centuries was entrusted to Trish monks.
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL.
The Office for the anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of Cologne adds that the relics of the three holy Kings. " preserved in this temple," have. at all times attracted "large multitudes of Christians from all parts of the world " I remember my last visit to the treasury of the Cathedral of Cologne. While we gazed at the works of art displayed there, the kind guide gave ids explanations in German. Dutch, English and French in succession, He Mid great emphasis on the fort that while nobody is hound to believe in the rather 'ague tradition of these relics, no one should scorn IL and everyone should admit that it has been a source of deep religious inspiration to the Catholic people of Germany.
While the adoration by the three holy Kings has bee., a favourite subject of European painting, there ate only a few traces of real devotion to the three holy Kings outside Germany and the Low Countries The dedication of the Catholic chapel of St. Benedicte (Rhodesia Prefecture) to " The Holy Magi " is probably due to missionaries from Cologne.




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