Attended Saturday Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church and was quite moved by how both the service and the church itself reflected that marvelous transition time between Christmas and Epiphany. Christmas carols were sung and the color of gold (reminding me of the gifts the Wise Men brought to the Christ child) predominated in the color of the vestments and candles. While these reflected the end of the festive season of Christmas, the priest’s sermon contained a strong Epiphany-like message: noting that the Wise Men were the first Gentiles to reveal Jesus to the world, so should we to those in our circles of family and friends who have either rejected Christ or lapsed in their church attendance. Trusting in God’s Providence, His steadfast love for us, and His keeping of the promises made to Israel through the prophet(s) Isaiah, we were encouraged to “speak boldly and act accordingly”. I have to admit I kinda liked it.

I’ve always enjoyed the Epiphany season – to me it has always meant a time for growing and making preparation for the season of Lent. This year, I’m planning to use it as a time of growing more familiar with the Roman Catholic tradition and reading a book or two about those who have followed the trail from Protestantism to Catholicism – in this case, reading this biography of John Henry Newman, a leader of the Oxford Movement who left the Church of England for Rome in the mid-19th century. I’ve already read Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s “Home Sweet Rome”, about their journey from Pesbyterianism to Roman Catholicism; it’ll be good to read something of a similar vein involving an Anglican.

A prayer for Epiphany from Catholic Online:

“O God, by the leading of a star thou didst manifest Thine only begotten Son to the Gentiles on this day; mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith, may be brought to contemplate the beauty of Thy majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen”