[January 6.]
The Epiphany.
S. Melchior, one of the Magi.
S. Macra, V. M., near Rheims, circ. a.d. 303.
S. Melanius, B. of Rennes, a.d. 580.
S. Peter, Ab. of Canterbury, a.d. 608.
S. Erminold, Ab. of Prufening, and M., a.d. 1121.
The Ven. Gertrude Van Oosten, V., at Delft, a.d. 1358.
S. John Ribeira, Patr. of Antioch, and Abp. of Valencia, in Spain, a.d. 1611.
THE EPIPHANY.
he principal design of the Church in celebrating this feast is, that her members may show gratitude to God for manifesting the Gospel to the Gentile world, and vouchsafing to it the same privileges as to the Jews, who had hitherto been His chosen and peculiar people; the first instance of this divine favour was the Manifestation of Christ to the Wise Men of the East. But, in all, there are three great manifestations of our Saviour commemorated on this day; all of which, S. Chrysostom says, happened on the same day, though not in the same year. The first of these was His manifestation by a star, which conducted the Magi to come and worship Him. The second Manifestation was that of the Blessed Trinity, at His Baptism. The third was the Manifestation of the Divinity of Christ, at Cana, by miraculously changing water into wine.
