Pope Francis on Solemnity of the Epiphany

January 7, 2023294 views0

Pope Francis on Solemnity of the Epiphany

2023-01-07T08:09:25+01:00

By Church News

In his homily on the celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Francis said that if the Magi had remained comfortable, they never would have encountered the Lord in Bethlehem.On the Church’s celebration of the Three Kings on Jan. 6, the pope warned that today’s world is full of “tranquillizers of the soul” and “empty promises of pleasure.”Pope Francis said, “From endless consumerism to non-stop media controversies and the idolatry of fitness, everything today seems to tell us; don’t overthink things, let go and enjoy life.”He continued, “Often we try to soothe our hearts with creature comforts; If the Magi had done that, they would never have encountered the Lord.”Pope Francis underlined that God however is found in “restless questioning” and seeking the answers to life’s bigger questions like, “Where do I find a love that does not fade away, a love that endures even in the face of frailty, failure, and betrayal? What hidden opportunities are present in the midst of my crises and my sufferings?”The pope quoted an Epiphany homily by the late Benedict XVI.“Benedict XVI said of the Magi: ‘Their outward pilgrimage was the expression of their inward journey, the inner pilgrimage of their hearts,’” Pope Francis said.

The Solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings who came with gifts to worship the Child Jesus shortly after his birth.The solemnity is traditionally celebrated on Jan. 6, but Catholic dioceses in the United States mark the feast on the Sunday that falls between Jan. 2-8. U.S. Catholics will celebrate the Epiphany this year on Jan. 8.Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle served as the main celebrant of the Liturgy of the Eucharist for the Epiphany Mass with Pope Francis offering the homily.In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ’s physical manifestation to the Gentiles.It is sometimes called Three Kings’ Day, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas.

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