Epiphany, which closes out the twelve days of Christmas, is always a joyful feast but this year I have a particular, additional reason to rejoice, for today a friend has been received into the Church. Or, I should say, “today”, for these movable feasts can sometimes prove elusive quarry, and in fact he was received on Sunday. But no matter! Let’s celebrate today.
Since this friend is rather fond of music, I offer John Sheppard’s setting of Reges Tharsis, the Gradual from the Epiphany Mass.
Reges Tharsis et insulae munera offerent,
reges Arabum et Saba dona (Domino Deo) adducent.
Et adorabunt eum omnes reges terrae,
omnes gentes servient ei.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
The kings of Tarshish and the islands will offer tribute,
the Kings of Arabia will bring gifts to the Lord God;
And all kings will adore him,
and all nations will serve Him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
All Manner of Thing 
January 6, 2015 at 9:45 am
Great piece of music and my favourite Epiphany pic. Best wishes to your friend and a Happy New Year to you!
January 6, 2015 at 11:05 am
I love that picture. I put it on my desktop for the Epiphany one year and left it there for 5 or 6 years.
Have you seen this picture before?
http://thethreeprayers.blogspot.com/2015/01/epiphany.html
AMDG
January 6, 2015 at 11:06 am
So I’ll get notifications.
January 6, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Thank you, Margaret. Happy New Year to you as well.
Janet: Never in life. But I like it. It is rare to see a tapestry with such gorgeous colour. Did you write that poem?
January 6, 2015 at 1:18 pm
Yes. I guess I should sign it.
AMDG
January 6, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I wanted an Epiphany poem and I couldn’t find one that fit.
AMDG
January 6, 2015 at 1:23 pm
I wish I could see that tapestry in person. If you click on it, you can see more detail.
AMDG
January 6, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Oh, I did click on it, first thing.
The most beautiful tapestry I have seen — tapestries, actually — are the “Lady and the Unicorn” ones that hang in the Musée National du Moyen Âge in Paris. I have a reproduction of one of them in my office at work. I just love them.
January 6, 2015 at 6:42 pm
I can’t think of any beautiful tapestries that I have seen in person, although I may be wrong. I think the Pre Raphaelites were pretty much wizards with tapestry.
AMDG
January 7, 2015 at 10:44 pm
That Giotto made my day. I was actually organized enough this year to make an epiphany king cake for us to feast on.
January 8, 2015 at 1:32 pm
That sounds great — and delicious.