Epiphany reveals Jesus as king to all

The Wise Men from the East followed the star of Bethlehem until it led them to the newborn king, Jesus Christ. They prostrated themselves and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-12) Among Western Christians, tradition holds the names of the Wise Men to be Casper, Melchior and Balthasar. They are regarded as saints and their relics are enshrined in the cathedral at Cologne, Germany. It is traditionally believed there were three because they presented three gifts and the belief they were kings riding camels comes from two Old More

Mary, Mother of God celebrated Jan. 1

"Called in the Gospels 'the mother of Jesus,' Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as 'the mother of my Lord," explains the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this title for Mary. "In fact, the one whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly 'Mother of God ('Theotokos') '" (no. 495) "Theotokos," comes More

Holy Family is Role Model for All Families

We celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph during the Christmas season. The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes the 1964 homily of Pope Paul VI on the feast of the Holy Family: “May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simply beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character.” (no. 533) And St. Pope John Paul II marveled at God's plan for the incarnation in his Dec., 31, 1978 homily: "The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem gave rise to this unique and exceptional family in the history of mankind. In this family More