By Herbert Vego
TO Catholic Christians, the 12 days of Christmas are not over yet. The season is supposed to end on the 12th day — in the Catholic calendar known as “feast of the Three Kings”. Counting from December 25, the 12th day falls on January 6.
The history of that song takes us back to the year 1909 when English composer Frederic William Austin wrote it as a catechism song for young Catholics.
As a backgrounder, in the years between 1558 and 1829, the Catholics in England were not permitted by the state to practice their faith openly. The hidden meanings of the song’s “gifts” were intended to help the children remember lessons of their faith.
Each gift on the list symbolizes a different aspect of the Christian faith: The partridge in the pear tree is Jesus Christ. The two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. The three French hens are the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.
The song makes no mention of the feast of the “three kings” on the 12th day.
Just as the accuracy of the December 25 celebration of Christmas is questionable, so, too, is the observance of the Three Kings day every January 6.
The Greek Orthodox Church, on the other hand, celebrates January 6 as the baptism day of the adult Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
In the Catholic Church liturgy, the “feast of the Three Kings” is also known as the “Feast of Epiphany” to mark the day when they — Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar – followed a bright star, leading them to the new-born child Jesus in Bethlehem. They presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
As to how the three “wise men” came to be known as Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar, it has also no cited ground; they are not named in the Bible. They are identified as “magis”.
As written in the second chapter of Matthew, their “search” for Jesus began in compliance with the order of Israel’s King Herod, who wanted the child killed. Contrary to popular belief, they did not arrive at the manger on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house – no longer in a manger. This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth, since King Herod of Israel – fearful of a threat to his kingdom –tried to have Jesus eliminated by killing all male children under the age of two.
Thus, Herod asked the magi to locate the child for him (Matthew 2:7). This supports the notion that the star of Bethlehem was a supernatural manifestation visible to nobody but the three.
It was only after the magi had met with Herod that the “bright star” shone, guided them to Bethlehem and hovered over the location of Jesus. The appearance of the “star” was the miracle that emboldened the “three kings” to renege on their commitment to Herod.
Hence, with their change of heart, they proceeded to see the child Jesus with no more evil motive. They never returned to Herod with “mission accomplished.”
-oOo-
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