Merry Christmas

St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that JOY is the noblest human act. Have a very joyful holiday, and don't forget to continue the festivities through the entire Octave of Christmas (at least!).

Magi Text Gives Another View of the Christmas Story

The Bible tells us very little about the magi, those mysterious visitors “from the east” who come to Jerusalem looking for the child whose star they observed “at its rising” in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. After meeting with King Herod the magi follow the star to Bethlehem. There, upon seeing the baby Jesus and his mother Mary, the magi worship him, presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then they return to their own lands, never to be heard from again.

Questions about the background and personalities of the "wise men" (NOT kings) have fired the imaginations of Christians for over two millennia. Many have shaped new narratives to answer the fundamental question, “Who were the magi?” My favorite, written by Henry Van Dyke in 1895, is called The Other Wise Man.

But much earlier someone—whose identity remains unknown—wrote an apocryphal account of the traditional Christmas story that is attributed to the magi themselves. The Revelation of the Magi has been recently translated into English by Brent Landau, professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, and is preserved in an eighth-century manuscript held in the Vatican Library.

The staff of the Biblical Archaeology Society describes the writing in this way:

"In the Revelation of the Magi, there are not just three magi, as often depicted in early Christian art (actually, Matthew does not tell us how many there were), nor are they Babylonian astrologers.... Rather  ... the magi (defined in this text as those who “pray in silence”) are a group—numbering as few as 12 and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics from a far-off, mythical land called Shir.... They are descendants of Seth, the righteous third son of Adam and the guardians of an age-old prophecy that a star of indescribable brightness would someday appear 'heralding the birth of God in human form.'

"When the long-prophesied star finally appears, the star is not simply sighted at its rising, as described in Matthew, but rather descends to earth, ultimately transforming into a luminous 'star-child' who instructs the magi to travel to Bethlehem to witness its birth in human form. The star then guides the magi along their journey, miraculously clearing their path of all obstacles and providing them with unlimited stamina and provisions. Finally, inside a cave on the outskirts of Bethlehem, the star reappears to the magi as a luminous human child—the Christ child—and commissions them to become witnesses to Christ in the lands of the east."

To find out more about The Revelation of the Magi, click here.

Course Instructor Change: Year 2

Congratulations to Fr. Aidan Donahue for his appointment as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Milford, CT beginning January 9, 2012. Fr. Donahue has taught in the Biblical School since its beginnings and promises to continue as part of our faculty for the foreseeable future. (Thanks be to God!)

His relocation to the southern part of the Archdiocese does, however, change Fr. Donahue’s availability to teach in certain northern locations. So beginning in January, Fr. Donahue will no longer be teaching the Year 2 class in Bloomfield on Wednesday nights. He will, however, continue teaching the Year 2 class in Cheshire on Monday nights.

We are pleased to announce that Deacon Robert Pallotti will take over for Fr. Donahue in Bloomfield. Dr. Pallotti joined the regular Biblical School faculty this year and will become the permanent instructor for the Year 2 class on Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Bloomfield.

Biblical School Schedule

Biblical School students will enjoy an extended Christmas break this year. Classes will reconvene (God willing and the creek don't rise!) in the new year during the week of January 9-13, 2012. For details, check your CBS academic-year calendar or go to www.orehartford.org and click on “Calendar” at the top of the page. (Feel free to contact Jill Costa for step-by-step instructions for accessing the CBS online calendar.)