The Epiphany of Our Lord

On January 6th, the Church celebrated the Epiphany of Our Lord, remembering in particular the visit of the Magi. As many of you may know, the visit of the Magi is only one of several events that has historically been connected with the celebration of the Epiphany. One particularly beautiful example of liturgical composition is the Benedictus antiphon for the morning of January 6th:

“Hodie caelesti sponso juncta est Ecclesia,
quoniam in Jordane lavit Christus ejus crimina,
currunt cum muneribus magi ad regales nuptias,
et ex aqua facta vino laetantur convivae, Alleluia.

On this day is the Church espoused to her heavenly Bridegroom:
forasmuch as in Jordan Christ hath cleansed her iniquities.
Therefore do the Wise Men hasten with their offerings to the royal nuptials:
where the guests are gladdened with water made wine, Alleluia.”

The same threefold emphasis can also be found in the Office Hymn Hostis Herodes impie, translations of which can be found at LSB 399 and TLH 131. This same hymn was translated by Dr. Luther in 1541 into German as Was fürchtst du, Feind Herodes, sehr, one of many office hymns that he rendered into the vernacular. It is traditionally appointed for Vespers from the Vigil of Epiphany through the Epiphany Octave, January 13th, which is the traditional date for observing the Baptism of Our Lord. The third of the three great Epiphany mysteries, the wedding at Cana, is remembered every year on the Second Sunday after Epiphany.