The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-07
YESTERDAY FEAST
 OF THE EPIPHANY Rev. Father Benedict Preaches
 At St. PauI's Church THE VISIT OF THE MAGI Why the Feast Is Observed. Symbolism Explained. Rev. Father KItrlck Will Organize Congregations
 In Neiehborlng Towns.
THE VISIT OF THE MAGl

fish from the pulpit the lesson and the gospel and prayers translated from the missal or mass book.
 Father Benedict was the celebrant again at high mass at 10:3O O clock. After sing ing the gospel he entered the pulpit He read the pastors notes for the week, then the lesson and gospel and then delivered discourse appropriate to the day-the great Feast of Epiphany which com memorates the visit of the Magi of the East to Bethlehem. there to see and wor- ship the Infant Jesus-a manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.
 The preacher chose his text from St. Matthew 2-11: Opening their treasures they offered Him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrhh"
 The Sermon.
 The speaker said in part;
 Three wise men-tradition speaks of them as kings-come from the far east pass through the gates of Jerusalem, enter the palace of Herod, and ask the question: Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" Herod becomes troubled and all Jerusalem with him. One asks the other the meaning of the question: but nobody can offer a solution. Then the scribes, the Jewish theologians, assembled in the temple to search through the prophetical books. They find the answer in Michaes or Micah: And thou, Beth lehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda. Out of thee shall come forth unto me that IS to be the ruler of Israel"
 This answer Is sufficient for the three wise men. A few hours afterwards they are on the road to Bethlehem, follow i ing the star, which appeared again until it stood still over the stable, which had become the tabernacle. the dwelling place of the God-Man. And this stable is more precious to them than Jerusalm with it's royal palace and it's learned doctors of the law. They adore the divine infant and offer him gold, frankencense and myrhh.
 The Symbolism.
 They offer the products of their coun- try, but outside of this. those gifts bear beautiful signification. Pope Leo l., says: "A great ray of truth enlightened their hearts; for even before they start ed on their journey they knew that they would see Him, in whom they must honor the royal dignity by the gifts of gold, | in whom they must adore the divinity ] by the offering of frankincense, and rec ognize by myrrh his mortality. The three fold gift of the wise men symbolizes, 1 therefore, the three-fold character of Jesus as King, God and man."
 They offer gold and thereby profess the royal dignity of the Infant In the 1 rpib Rnt ic Ixi l. virgin mother Is a descendant of the royal house of David. He is, therefore. a king by birth, but he Is a king espec- tally by prerogatives, by which he ex- celled before all men. He is the king of peace. As such he was announced 1 by the angel on the fields of Bethlehem | Peace on earth to men of good will.' l As such he was heralded by the prophet Zacharias 9-9-10: Behold thy King will come to thee And he shall speak peace to the Gentiles. and his power shall be from sea to sea-
 He Is furthermore, the king of poverty. There was never man as poor as He As a babe He lies in a manager, and in death, the cross is his throne; but in spite of this poverty He reigns from the crib to the cross. Where is the newborn King of the Jews? ask the Mag at his birth; and when He expires His cross bears the inscription: Jesus of Naza- reth, King of the Jews?"
 christ's Suffering.
 He is King of sorrows No man ever suffered like unto him. Behold Him in the hall of the Roman governor, Pontius
  even the cold and naughty Roman ex- claim: "Ecce Homo." (Behold, what a manD There He stands, the crown of thorns upon His head, His body clothed in the royal purple of his own blood, the sceptre of mockery in His hand, while soldiers bend their knees before Him in derision, crying, Hail, King of the Jews" There He stands weighed down by the heavy burden of suffering and ignominy so that He may call out in the words of Jeremiah, 70, all ye who pass by, attend and see if there is any sorrow like to my sorrow.'' But Christ Is King in spite of ignominy and suffering | for on account of his peace. poverty and | sorrow the Eternal Father has made | Him the King of glory. Therefore" says ol fdul, CHrlSl Has uicd lIdl lie reign | over the living and the dead"
 | The preacher said that as bitter as myrrh may be- 1t also acts as a preserva- | tive. It was used in the east especially for | embaiming. Although 1t symbolized Christ's mortality it also signiied that His body should be free from the decay and corruption of the grave, as the Psalmst had foretold: Thou wilt not give thy Holy One to see corruption.'' | By the gift of myrrh the three wise men profess their faith in the human nature of Christ, but at the same time they ex- press also their belief in His resurrec- | ton. He must die because He was man, | but He would not see corruption He | should rise as God. To this points the reign King forever This is symbolized by | the gift of gold.
 Penance Symbolized. | The speaker said that myrrh symbol | zed also penance. He pointed out that penance was difficult. It was bitter like myrrh. It imposed, he said. hardships and | trials and forbade worldly and excessive anusements, but 1t was necessary If anyone would come after Me-" says the Lord 'let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" The preacher concluded his sermon with this exhortations Christian friends. let us, ike f,he three wise men honor our Savior