The Epiphany

Continuing with Fouard's Life of Christ:

Chapter V: The Epiphany

I. The Magi

Matt. ii. 1-11

While Joseph and Mary were leaving Jerusalem, a which caravan was entering it.  "These were certain Magi (perhaps from Mogh, meaning Priest in the persian vulgar tongue; alternatively, “a sage”; or a “grandee” (from Sanscrit Mahat > Magnate > Magnus > Μέγας ) of the Orient," says Saint Matthew.  This word, borrowed from the religious terminology of the Persians, is used here to designate the Sacerdotal Class; and it would seem to indicate, therefore, that the Magi were priests of that nation.  This feeling is confirmed by the paintings in the catacombs, where we see the Magi always robed in the costume of the Persians, —the high head dress, the tunic girded at the loins, over which floats a mantle thrown back over the shoulders, the legs are either bare or covered with boots, closely bound with thongs after the fashion of this people. (From Persia, according to the traditions of the Syrian Church and the Greek Fathers; others suggest Arabia, the traditional source of gold, frankincense and myrrh.)

Ministers of a religion far superior to any of the numerous forms of Paganism, the Magi appear to have worshipped at all times One Supreme Divinity, towards whom they observed an austere cult.  There were neither altars nor statues in their temples; there choirs never marched with other than reverent gravity, sending up to God their solemn chants and prayers.

These noble beliefs had survived intact among the Persians up to the time when, under the guidance of Cyrus, they ascended into the plains of Mesopotamia.  There mingling with the Chaldean Magi, if they did not preserve the purity of their faith, they however came under the influence which the Israelite captives exercised upon their conquerors at that period, and in particular under the teachings of Daniel.  It is a fact, which we know from Scripture, that this Prophet, after his introduction into the palace of Nabuchodonosor,(605 BC – c. 562 BC. Destroyer of Solomon's Temple and the initiator of the Babylonian captivity. ) showed himself ten times as wise as the priests and soothsayers of Chaldea, and hence he was placed at their head through the favour of the prince.  His ascendancy only increased under the four succeeding princes and the three dynasties, and was afterwards confirmed by the triumph of the Persian; for these new victors sympathised with the hatred which Israel had ever felt for idolatry.

Being made subject in this manner to the authority of Daniel, the Magi, — Chaldean as well as Pershing, —  could not possibly have been ignorant of his predictions concerning a Messiah, in which he had gone so far as to mark the year, the month, and the hour of His Birth.  They had learned from him that the Saint of Saints, who should receive the divine Anointment, was that very One whom Balaam had beheld arising from Jacob like a Star.(Num. Xxiv. 17.)  From the Magi these prophecies were disseminated among the people; and in the time of Jesus there was a settled conviction, cherished likewise throughout all the East, that a King was to arise from Judea, who should conquer the world.(This report had even come to the ears of Tacitus (Historiae, lib., v. cap. xiii)  and Suetonius.)



In the midst of this expectancy a strange Star shone out suddenly in the eastern sky. (Matt. ii. 2.) The Magi always followed the course of the stars attentively; in the clear nights of the Orient, when the heavens hang out all their glittering lamps, they had remarked this Star and recognised it as a signal for some great marvel.  And at the same time their hearts as well as their eyes were opened to admit the light which heralded the Christ; they recalled to each other the Star of Jacob and Judea and three from among them resolved to travel afar in search of Him of whose approach the heavens were telling.

The Magi en route for Bethlehem. J-J Tissot.

Whether they set out from Babylon, from Persepolis, or from some other city of the Parthian Empire, at that time master of the East, the Magi must have been many long months journeying;(Four months if they came from Persia, or seventy days if they started from Chaldea) and they had proceeded apparently without any further guidance from the Star, since we see them entering Judea quite uncertain as to the spot where their Messiah was to be found, and coming to Jerusalem to clear up all their doubts.  The Holy City was accustomed to seeing within her walls caravans from the far distant Orient, with their striking costumes, and long files of camels laden with luggage.  But great was the surprise when the strangers were heard to enquire, "And where is the King of the Jews who has been born?  We have seen His Star in the East, and are come to adore Him."

This question, flying from lip to lip, came to the ears of Herod.  No one could be more disturbed by it than he, conscious that his un-hoped for good fortune and his thirty years reign had not been able to sanctify his pretensions to royalty in his subject's eyes.  In vain had he espoused the daughter of the last kings of Judea, in order to make them forget his origin; none the less did the blood of Ishmael and Esau flow in his veins; and the Scribes loved to recall that he had been "the servant of the Asmoneans." Powerless to appease this bitter hatred, the usurper could know no repose; and in his dread of any rivalry, he shed the blood of his family in torrents.  No remnant of the race of the Machabees being left alive, he had hoped, at last, to reign without further strife, when the rumour bruited abroad reached his ears, — that certain strangers were seeking in Jerusalem for a new born King of the Jews.  At once the tyrant's jealousy was aroused to a savager intensity than ever.  So, it was no longer the extinguished race of the Machabees, but that of David, which now threatened him; for this unknown Babe, destined to the throne, by none other than the Messiah; and it was easy to see from the excitement which pervaded the city that all Jerusalem was reading the occurrence in that light.

Dissembling his fears, in order to strike a better directed blow,(Matt. ii. 4-6.) Herod convened the council composed of High-Priests and Scribes, and ordered them to declare where the Messiah should be born.  The answer could not be misunderstood.

"In Bethlehem and of Judea," they said; "for it is written, ‘And thou Bethlehem, land of Juda, thou art not the least among the principalities of Juda, for from thee shall spring the Chief Who shall feed the flock of Israel, My people.’"

These members of the Sanhedrin did not so much quote the words of the prophet Micheas as they interpreted his thoughts; but Herod saw only too clearly what he had wished to know, and his plans were at once settled.

Herod interviews the Magi. J-J Tissot

He resolved to separate the Magi, not only from the Jews, who must naturally be all afire with emotion at this tale, but even from his own associates, who might well have warned them against this hypocrisy. He summoned them to him therefore in secret, and feigning great interest in their quest, he made exact inquiry as to the Star, particularly as to the time when it had made its appearance.

So soon as there was nothing more to learn, "Go to Bethlehem," he said to them, "seek zealously for the child, and as soon as you have found him make it known to me, in order that I may go also to adore him."

And he dispatched them on the instant, without guides, without escort, thus giving no time for any warning, in order that no one, either at Jerusalem or at Bethlehem or among the retinue of the Magi, might suspect his intentions and rob him of his victim. Night had fallen upon the city; Herod saw in all this the very moment adapted to his designs.  It was but to result in their confusion.

Scarcely had the Magi passed beneath the gates of Jerusalem, when the Star shone out anew upon their gaze.9  "This site fill them with great joy;" for the Star, leading them on their way, preceded them to Bethlehem, and rested about the place where they were to find the Babe.(Fouard argues the Magi did not visit the stable but rather a dwelling, citing the word οἰκία in Matt. ii.11 and the tradition of Christian art.)

The Adoration of the magi. J-J Tissot

There they found only Mary and Jesus. (The sacred text is silent about Joseph who must have been absent.) Whereupon that holy night witnessed a wondrous spectacle: at the feet of the Virgin, clasping within her arms a young Child, these three sages fell prostrate in the dust, and adored the Godhead enshrined within this poor abode.  Round about them, their attendants were equally bestirring themselves on all sides; the camels too had bent their knees, while the retainers lightened them of their precious burdens.  Then the Magi, opening these treasures, made offering of them to Jesus.  There were gold, incense, and myrrh.

Such is the scene in the Gospel.  Pius legends there are, which add more details than one.  They robe these wise men in the royal purple, set crowns upon their brows, depict their features and their expressions; their names even are made known to us.

"The first was called Melchior," says the Venerable Bede.  "He was an old man with white hair and long beard; he offered gold to the Lord, as to his King.  The second, Caspar by name, young, beardless, ruddy of hue, offered to Jesus, in his gift of incense, the homage due to His Divinity.  The third, of black complexion, with heavy beard, was called Baltasar.  The Myrrh he held within his hand prefigured the Death of the Son of man."

Unhappily, these details have no authority at all; for it is only in the sixth century that Saint Caesar of Arles confers upon the Magi the title of Kings, now so generally attributed to them, ( Fouard argues they were not kings: 1) S. Matthew sets the Royalty of Jesus in higher relief and would certainly have mentioned these sovereigns bowing before the Lord; 2) Herod would have received them with more ceremony;  and 3) the primitive monuments do not portray them as kings. Cf: Ps. lxxi: [10] The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts: Reges Tharsis et insulae munera offerent; reges Arabum et Saba dona adducent;) and it is in the ninth that we find their names are cited for the first time.  Two points only appear to be certain; these are, that the Magi were three in number and that Persia was a native country.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam