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Vatican Weekend for January 8, 2017 presents our weekly reflection on the Sunday Gospel reading and our resident Vatican watcher, Joan Lewis looks back at Pope Francis' activities over the past week, including the Pope's New Year's Day Peace Message and Angelus.

Listen to this programme produced and presented by Tracey McClure :

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Vatican Weekend for January 7, 2017 presents a look at Saints Basil and Gregory, a feature program on the 3 Magi and their role in Christian art throughout the ages, and 'Keeping  the Christmas spirit:' Mgr William Millea offers a reflection for this season celebrating Christ’s birth…..

Listen to this programme produced and presented by Tracey McClure:

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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday celebrated Mass for the feast of the Epiphany telling the faithful in St Peter's Basilica the Magi personify all those who believe and long for God.

Listen to Lydia O'Kane's report:

The 6th of January is synonymous with the Magi who, following a star are led to the Christ child in Bethlehem. And it was next to a manger containing the baby Jesus in St Peter’s Basilica that Pope Francis in his homily spoke about these three Kings who, he said, “personify all those who believe, those who long for God, who yearn for their home, their heavenly homeland.” 

They reflect, he added,  “the image of all those who in their lives have not let their hearts become anesthetized.”

Like these kings, the Pope explained, “a holy longing for God helps us keep alert in the face of every attempt to reduce and impoverish our life.  That longing keeps hope alive in the community of believers, which from week to week continues to plead: “Come, Lord Jesus”.”

Longing for God, continued the Holy Father, “has its roots in the past yet does not remain there: it reaches out to the future.  Pope Francis said, “believers who feel this longing are led by faith to seek God, as the Magi did, in the most distant corners of history, for they know that there the Lord awaits them.  They go to the peripheries, to the frontiers, to places not yet evangelized, to encounter their Lord.”

But the Pope noted, “an entirely different attitude reigned in the palace of Herod, … He slept, anesthetized by a cauterized conscience.  He was bewildered, afraid.  It is the bewilderment which, when faced with the newness that revolutionizes history, closes in on itself and its own achievements, its knowledge, its successes.”  A bewilderment, the Holy Father stressed,  “born of fear and foreboding before anything that challenges us, calls into question our certainties and our truths, our ways of clinging to the world and this life.” 

The Magi, underlined Pope Francis, “had to discover that what they sought was not in a palace, but elsewhere, both existentially and geographically.  There, in the palace, they did not see the star guiding them to discover a God who wants to be loved.  For only under the banner of freedom, not tyranny, the Pope said, “is it possible to realize that the gaze of this unknown but desired king does not abase, enslave, or imprison us.”

It is a merciful gaze, noted the Pope, that heals, forgives, and comforts those who suffer.

What the Magi found in Bethlehem concluded Pope Francis. “was a promise of newness.  There something new was taking place.  The Magi were able to worship, because they had the courage to set out.  And as they fell to their knees before the small, poor and vulnerable Infant, the unexpected and unknown Child of Bethlehem, they discovered the glory of God.”

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A fire on Monday evening, this week, burned down part of the iconic Sacred Heart of Lomé’s Cathedral. Fortunately, greater damage was avoided as the fire was brought under control by the rapid intervention of firefighters.

According to witnesses, the fire started in the afternoon about 16.30, local time. The administrator of the Cathedral, Father Désiré Kpodar, was alerted to the fire by a loud noise emanating from the side of the Sacristy.

Very quickly, a huge crowd gathered around the building to fight the flames before the arrival of firefighters. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Agoro Tchanile, commander of firefighters in Lomé, the fire was contained within 45 minutes.

There were no reported injuries or loss of life.

The Cathedral of Lomé is a historical building situated right in the heart of the Togolese capital. It attracts thousands of visitors each year. Of Gothic style, it was built between 1901 - 1902 by German Catholic missionaries. On 9 August 1985, Pope Saint John Paul II celebrated Mass in the Cathedral when he visited Togo.

Although no one was harmed by the fire, initial indications, suggest massive losses regarding destroyed exceptional ornamental pieces, historical and traditional Church vestments such as Chasubles and precious liturgical documents that were stored in the Sacristy.

Togo’s Minister of Emergency and Safety, who rushed to the scene, declined to comment on the cause of the fire preferring to wait for investigators to establish the cause.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lome, Denis Komivi Amuzu-Dzakpah said measures would be put in place to reopen the Cathedral to the faithful as soon as it safe to do so.  

(Source: Jeuneafrique)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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(Vatican Radio) "We learn from the Magi not to devote only spare time and some thoughts every now and then. Like the Magi, let us set out, clothe ourselves in the light following the star of Jesus, and love the Lord with all our might". Those were Pope Francis’ words to the thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus of the Epiphany, to which he donated a book on Mercy distributed by the poor attendance.

Like the Magi chose to be guided by the star of Jesus - said the Pope, "even in our life there are several stars. It's up to us to choose which to follow."

"There are flashing lights that come and go, like the small pleasures of life: although good, they are not enough… “

The Magi invite us to follow the true light that is Lord - said Pope Francis - "a light that does not dazzle, but it accompanies and gives a unique joy. Follow today, among the many shooting stars in the world, the bright star of Jesus! Following it, we will have the joy, like  that of the Magi. "

"I would like, the Pope said, to invite everyone not to be afraid of this light and open up to the Lord. Above all I would say to those who have lost the strength to look, to those who, are dominated by the darkness of life, …Courage, the light of Jesus can overcome the darkest darkness. "

"We learn from the Magi not to devote to Jesus only spare time and some thoughts every now and then…”

Concluding the Angelus, Pope Francis donated to those present in St Peter’s Square a small booklet on Mercy which was distributed by more than 300 poor people present in St Peter's Square to whom the Pope offered lunch.

"The Magi offered their gifts to Jesus, And speaking of gifts, I thought I'd give you a little gift: The "Icons of mercy" booklet. The gift of God is Jesus, the Father's mercy; and so, to remember this gift of God, I will give this gift that will be distributed by the poor, the homeless and refugees along with many volunteers and religious whom I cordially greet and thank you wholeheartedly. "

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The Bishop of Yei in South Sudan, Erkolano Lodu Tombe, has repeated his request to the government to allow him travel into the jungle to speak with rebel fighters and find out their grievances.

According to Catholic Radio Easter of South Sudan, the Yei Catholic Bishop who is also the Chairperson of Yei Church Leaders’ Ecumenical Team, says the permission is needed to avoid unnecessary suspicion at various checkpoints he would have to encounter.

Bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe says the church is not a spy for any party and his interest in going to seek the rebel fighters is only to make sure that the fighting stops. 

Local political administrators have already approved the Bishop's request but the Yei State Information Minister, Stephen Lado Onesimo, said the state government is still waiting for a response and clearance from the national government of South Sudan.

The Bishop disclosed his intention at a meeting held this week, in Yei River State. The meeting involved the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) officials and Church leaders who met to try and improve civil and military relations in Yei.

(Sudan Catholic Radio Network)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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Washington D.C., Jan 6, 2017 / 03:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- While the hustle and bustle of Christmas ends for many people on Dec. 26, throughout Christian history Christmas lasts for twelve days – all the way until Jan. 6.

This feast marking the end of Christmas is called “Epiphany.”

In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, Epiphany celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. It focuses primarily on this revelation to the Three Wise Men, but also in his baptism in the Jordan and at the wedding at Cana.

In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany – as Epiphany is known in the East – commemorates the manifestation of Jesus' divinity at his Baptism in the River Jordan.

While the traditional date for the feast is Jan. 6, in the United States the celebration of Epiphany is moved to the next Sunday, overlapping with the rest of the Western Church’s celebration of the Baptism of Christ.

However, the meaning of the feast goes deeper than just the bringing of presents or the end of Christmas, says Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo, a Melkite Catholic priest and founding executive director of the Virginia-based Institute of Catholic Culture.

“You can't understand the Nativity without Theophany; or you can’t understand Nativity without Epiphany.” The revelation of Christ as the Son of God – both as an infant and at his baptism – illuminate the mysteries of the Christmas season, he said.

“Our human nature is blinded because of sin and we’re unable to see as God sees,” he told CNA. “God reveals to us the revelation of what’s going on.”

Origins of Epiphany

While the Western celebration of Epiphany (which comes from Greek, meaning “revelation from above”), and the Eastern celebration of Theophany (meaning “revelation of God”), have developed their own traditions and liturgical significances, these feasts share more than the same day.

“The Feast of Epiphany, or the Feast of Theophany, is a very, very early feast,” said Fr. Carnazzo. “It predates the celebration of Christmas on the 25th.”

In the early Church, Christians, particularly those in the East, celebrated the advent of Christ on Jan. 6 by commemorating Nativity, Visitation of the Magi, Baptism of Christ and the Wedding of Cana all in one feast of the Epiphany. By the fourth century, both Christmas and Epiphany had been set as separate feasts in some dioceses. At the Council of Tours in 567, the Church set both Christmas day and Epiphany as feast days on the Dec. 25 and Jan. 6, respectively, and named the twelve days between the feasts as the Christmas season.

Over time, the Western Church separated the remaining feasts into their own celebrations, leaving the celebration of the Epiphany to commemorate primarily the Visitation of the Magi to see the newborn Christ on Jan. 6. Meanwhile, the Eastern Churches' celebration of Theophany celebrates Christ’s baptism and is one of the holiest feast days of the liturgical calendar.

Roman Traditions

The celebration of the visitation of the Magi – whom the Bible describes as learned wise men from the East – has developed its own distinct traditions throughout the Roman Church.

As part of the liturgy of the Epiphany, it is traditional to proclaim the date of Easter and other moveable feast days to the faithful – formally reminding the Church of the importance of Easter and the resurrection to both the liturgical year and to the faith.

Other cultural traditions have also arisen around the feast.  Dr. Matthew Bunson, EWTN Senior Contributor, told CNA about the “rich cultural traditions” in Spain, France, Ireland and elsewhere that form an integral part of the Christmas season for those cultures.

In Italy, La Befana brings sweets and presents to children not on Christmas, but on Epiphany. Children in many parts of Latin America, the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain also receive their presents on “Three Kings Day.”

Meanwhile, in Ireland, Catholics celebrate “Women's Christmas” – where women rest from housework and cleaning and celebrate together with a special meal. Epiphany in Poland is marked by taking chalk – along with gold, incense and amber – to be blessed at Mass. Back at home, families will inscribe the first part of the year, followed by the letters, “K+M+B+” and then the last numbers of the year on top of every door in the house.

The letters, Bunson explained, stand for the names traditionally given to the wise men – Casper, Melchior and Balthazar – as well as for the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or, “Christ, bless this house.”

In nearly every part of the world, Catholics celebrate Epiphany with a Kings Cake: a sweet cake that sometimes contains an object like a figurine or a lone nut. In some locations lucky recipient of this prize either gets special treatment for the day, or they must then hold a party at the close of the traditional Epiphany season on Feb. 2.

These celebrations, Bunson said, point to the family-centered nature of the feast day and of its original celebration with the Holy Family. The traditions also point to what is known – and what is still mysterious – about the Magi, who were the first gentiles to encounter Christ. While the Bible remains silent about the wise men’s actual names, as well as how many of them there were, we do know that they were clever, wealthy, and most importantly, brave.

“They were willing to take the risk in order to go searching for the truth, in what they discerned was a monumental event,” he said, adding that the Magi can still be a powerful example.

Lastly, Bunson pointed to the gifts the wise men brought – frankincense, myrrh and gold – as gifts that point not only to Christ’s divinity and his revelation to the Magi as the King of Kings, but also to his crucifixion. In giving herbs traditionally used for burial, these gifts, he said, bring a theological “shadow, a sense of anticipation of what is to come.”

Revelation of God

Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo explained to CNA the significance of the feast of the Theophany – and of Christ’s Baptism more broadly – within the Eastern Catholic churches.

“In our Christian understanding in the East, we are looking at creation through the eyes of God, not so much through the eyes of Man,” Fr. Carnazzo said.  

In the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, he continued, there is special divine significance.

With this feast day, the pastor explained, “God has come to reclaim us for himself.” Because of original sin, he continued, humanity has inherited “a human nature which has been dislocated from its source of life.”

Sin also effected parts of creation such as water have also been separated from their purpose and connection to God’s plan for life, Fr. Carrazzo said, because its original purpose is not just to sustain our bodies, but our souls as well.  

“With the fall, however, it has been dislocated from its source of life, it is under the dominion of death- it doesn’t have eternal life anymore. So God comes to take it to himself.”

“What Jesus did was to take our human nature and do with it what we could not do – which is, to walk it out of death, and that’s exactly what He did with His baptism.” As it is so linked to the destruction of death and reclaiming of life, the Feast of Theophany is also very closely linked to the Crucifixion – an attribute that is reflected in Eastern iconography of both events as well.

The feast of the Theophany celebrates not only Christ’s conquering of sin through baptism, but also God’s revelation of Christ as his Son and the beginning of Christ’s ministry. “The baptism of the Lord, just like the Nativity, is not just a historical event: it’s a revelation,” Fr. Carrazzo said.

To mark the day, Eastern Catholics begin celebrations with Divine Liturgy at the Church, which includes a blessing of the waters in the baptistry. After the water is blessed, the faithful drink the water, and bring bottles of water to bring back to their homes for use and not only physical but spiritual healing, he explained. Many parishes hold feasts after Liturgy is over. In many Middle Eastern cultures, people also fry and eat awamat – dough that is fried until it floats, and then is covered in honey.

During the Theophany season, priests also try to visit each home in the parish to bless the house with Holy Water that was blessed at Theophany. Fr. Carrazzo invited all Roman Catholics to come and become familiar, “to be part of a family” and join in celebrating Eastern Catholic traditions.

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Vatican City, Jan 6, 2017 / 04:47 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis Friday, the Feast of the Epiphany, said that the Magi are not just men who sought out and worshiped the Christ-child a long time ago – they exemplify everyone who has a restless heart, everyone searching for God.

The hearts of the Magi “were open to the horizon and they could see what the heavens were showing them, for they were guided by an inner restlessness,” he said Jan. 6. “They were open to something new.”

“The Magi thus personify all those who believe, those who long for God, who yearn for their home, their heavenly homeland.”

In his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis explained how this “holy longing” for God is present in the hearts of believers because we know that the Gospel is not just something of the past, but that it is also here and now.

And this longing for God is what helps to keep us alert in the face of trials, and to keep the faith, even amongst “prophets of doom” and those people and things who try to “impoverish” our lives, he said.

“That longing keeps hope alive in the community of believers, which from week to week continues to plead: ‘Come, Lord Jesus.’”

This longing can be seen throughout the New Testament, Francis pointed out. It can be seen in the elderly Simeon, who went every day to the Temple, certain that he would hold the Savior before his life ended. The same longing can be seen in the Prodigal Son, leading him to abandon his self-destructive lifestyle and return to his father.

The shepherd who leaves the 99 to search for the one lost sheep has this longing. Mary Magdalen experienced this longing too, when she went to the tomb on that first Easter morning looking for Christ.

“Longing for God draws us out of our iron-clad isolation, which makes us think that nothing can change. Longing for God shatters our dreary routines and impels us to make the changes we want and need,” the Pope stated.

“Longing for God has its roots in the past yet does not remain there: it reaches out to the future,” he continued.

When we feel this longing, faith leads us to seek God, just like the Magi did, he explained, even “in the most distant corners of history.” Believers throughout history have been led to “go to the peripheries, to the frontiers, to places not yet evangelized” because of this faith, he said.

But they don’t do this through a sense of superiority, Francis noted. They go as beggars, who “cannot ignore the eyes of those who for whom the Good News is still uncharted territory.”

King Herod though, instead of having faith, was full of fear, full of the culture that preaches control and winning at any cost. And this is what led him to kill innocent children, he explained.

The Pope said that the Magi, on the other hand, wanted to worship, but they thought they would find the King in a palace: “They had to discover that what they sought was not in a palace, but elsewhere, both existentially and geographically.”

Continuing, Pope Francis said we have to realize that “God wanted to be born where we least expected, or perhaps desired, in a place where we so often refuse him. To realize that in God’s eyes there is always room for those who are wounded, weary, mistreated and abandoned.”

“That his strength and his power are called mercy. For some of us, how far Jerusalem is from Bethlehem!” Francis emphasized.

“The Magi experienced longing; they were tired of the usual fare. They were all too familiar with, and weary of, the Herods of their own day,” the Pope said. “But there, in Bethlehem, was a promise of newness, of gratuitousness. There something new was taking place.”

“The Magi were able to worship, because they had the courage to set out. And as they fell to their knees before the small, poor and vulnerable Infant, the unexpected and unknown Child of Bethlehem, they discovered the glory of God.”

Following Mass, Pope Francis led around 35,000 pilgrims in the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, speaking about how Jesus is our light: “a light that does not dazzle, but accompanies and gives a unique joy.”

“In our life there are several stars,” he warned. And it’s up to us to choose which to follow. There are many “flashing lights” in our lives, like success and money, which come and go, which may be good, but are not enough, because they do not give lasting peace.

“The Magi, instead, invite you to follow a stable and friendly light, which shall not pass, because it is not of this world,” he explained. It comes from “heaven and shines in the heart.”

Today, follow the “bright star of Jesus!” he said. Have courage, because the “light of Jesus can overcome the darkest darkness.”

This Epiphany, look to the example of the Magi, he emphasized. Go out of yourself and seek: “the Christian life is a continuous journey.”

And finding the Child, the Magi worshipped him, entered into “a personal communion of love with Jesus,” giving him their most precious gifts.

Don’t give Jesus only your “spare time” or “some thought occasionally,” the Pope concluded. “Like the Magi, let us set out, clothing ourselves in light, following the star of Jesus, adoring the Lord with our whole selves.”

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