Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Epiphany of the Lord: History, Magi, and Light

Know Before You Go

Welcome to "Know Before You Go" for the weekend of Sunday, January 4, 2026. Join Father Greg Heille at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis as he explores the profound history and symbolism of the Feast of the Epiphany.

While traditionally observed on January 6th, many celebrate this great feast on Sunday to gather together as a community. Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian celebrations, pre-dating even the standardized date of Christmas. It originally encompassed the birth of Christ, the visit of the Magi, and the Baptism of the Lord into one massive celebration of revelation.

In this video, Fr. Greg explains:

  • The history behind the "12 Days of Christmas" and the Council of Tours.
  • The biblical account of the Magi (Wise Men), the star, and their encounter with Herod.
  • How Old Testament prophecies from Isaiah connect to the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
  • Beautiful cultural traditions, such as the chalking of the doors (20+C+M+B+26).

"Your light has come." This feast reminds us that Christ’s light is not just for a select few, but revealed to the Gentiles and the whole world. We are all co-heirs and members of the same body.

Watch now to prepare your heart for Mass this weekend and discover why this feast is known as the Festival of Light.

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⏱️ Timeline & Key Moments
0:00 - Introduction & The Feast of Epiphany
0:41 - The Ancient History of Epiphany vs. Christmas
1:49 - The 12 Days of Christmas & The Council of Tours
2:35 - The Gospel of Matthew: The Star and Herod
3:41 - The Magi’s Gifts & The Prophecy of Isaiah
4:31 - Epiphany as the Festival of Light
5:06 - Who were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar?
5:36 - The Tradition of Chalking the Doors
6:21 - The Invitation to All Nations (Gentiles)

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Dominican recording video

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