Review article
The Feast of the Epiphany. A Liturgical and Theological Analysis
Zvonko Pažin
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia
Abstract
In the first part, the author presents the historical framework behind the feast of the Epiphany (created in the process of inculturation) and the historical development of its contents in the East and the West. In the beginning, the East on that day celebrated the birth of Christ (»manifestation«, »appearance«), and later, exclusively the baptism of Jesus. The West on that day primarily remembers the visitation of the Three Magi, but also the Baptism of Jesus and his miracle in Cana of Galilee.
In the second part, the author analyzes the mass prayers of the Feast, from the vigil mass and the day mass, in ancient sources and old missals until the missal of 2002. The theology of these prayers can be reduced to two strong points. First, the Incarnate Son of God opens God’s salvation no longer only to one people but to all the nations of the world (represented by the Magi), which was an important message in the beginnings of Christianity. Second, God the Father has sent his Son – the Sun of Justice to enlighten every man. It is that wonderful exchange where the Son of God takes from us our humanity to dress us up in His divinity.
Keywords
Epiphany; gentes; admirabile commercium; the Magi; the baptism of Jesus; the miracle in Cana of Galilee; Roman Missal
Hrčak ID:
137800
URI
Publication date:
16.4.2015.
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