Members     |     Espanol      |      Give Now
Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity
  • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Our Spirituality
    • Missionary Cenacle Family
    • Wall of Fame
    • In Memoriam
    • Jubilarians
    • Centennial Year
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Spirituality Centers
    • Mother Boniface Spirituality Center- Philadelphia
      • Upcoming Programs & Retreats
      • Event Calendar
      • Spiritual Direction
      • Saints A.L.I.V.E.
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Volunteer
      • Plan Your Gathering
      • Make a Donation
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Blog
      • Fire of Faith
        Young Adult Group
      • Youth Ministry
      • 2019 Appeal
    • Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat – Alabama
      • Events & Retreats
      • Event Calendar
      • Trinity Treasury Enrollments
      • 2020 Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat Appeal
      • Booking & Availability
      • Blog
      • History
      • Hermitage
      • Spiritual Direction
      • Directions
      • Donate to BTSR
    • Trinita Retreat Center – Connecticut
      • Events & Retreats
      • Facilities
      • Staff
      • Directions
      • Volunteer
      • 2020 Trinita Appeal
      • Donate to Trinita
  • Vocations
    • Retiro de Adviento Vocacional en México
    • Do I Have A Call?
    • Becoming a Sister
    • Vocation Events
    • Vocation Inquiry Form
  • Volunteering
    • Volunteer in Connecticut
    • Volunteer in Philadelphia
    • Missionary Cenacle Volunteers
  • Donations
    • Give Now
    • Easter Novena Masses Appeal
    • Our Mission in the Time of COVID-19
    • Trinity Treasury Enrollments
    • 2020 Missions Appeal
    • 2020 Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat Appeal
    • Trinita Appeal
    • Special Intentions
    • Request Trinity Treasury Enrollment Cards
    • Contact Us

Magi in Puerto Rico

3kingdwithjesus

I had the pleasure of being present for a beautiful Liturgy of the Word held at Our Lady of Carmel Parish in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This is the Parish where our MSBT Sisters in Ponce worship. They told me “the Magi are coming at 11:00 AM!” I had no idea of the treat I was about to experience. Epiphany is celebrated on the traditional day January 6th in Puerto Rico and many other countries.

I entered the Church with the other sisters and found it overflowing with people of all ages and many families with young children. Everyone was on tiptoe straining to see. Traditional music of the shepherds and kings could be heard. A man dressed as a shepherd directed our attention to the entrance of the Church and soon I could see a tall, handsome, bearded man walking slowly down the aisle. He was richly dressed in robes and had a beautiful smile as the people reached out to touch him. As he approached the altar and bowed another man similarly dressed came down the aisle smiling in a friendly yet dignified way. Finally a third, even more magnificent man entered. He was even more handsome and beautifully dressed.3kings4

As the music played the Pastor and Deacon entered with a man in brown robes and a woman dressed in white and blue, holding a baby; the Holy Family. They walked in procession to the sanctuary. We listened to the scripture readings about Jesus’ birth and the Magi seeking the new born King.

After a short homily the Holy Family were seated in the front of the altar. One by one the Magi presented their gifts with a few words. (The baby playing Jesus looked at each Magi as he spoke.) Then all three prostrated themselves before the Infant Jesus. Everyone knelt and was silent for some moments. Then the Magi each held the child as the musicians played. The Liturgy of the Word concluded with a Blessing of first the Magi and then of all the congregation. The Magi slowly left the Church to be seated in a shady area where the children and their parents were invited to meet and talk with them. In Puerto Rico it is the Magi who bring the gifts on January 6th. The night of the January 5th the children leave shoeboxes filled with straw under their beds for the care of the Magi’s camels.

I have celebrated January 6th before with men or boys dressed as the Magi but I have never seen anything as splendid as this! Of course I googled it.

holyfamilyThese Magi are from a small city in Puerto Rico, Juana Diaz, which has been celebrating in great and solemn style the Feast of Epiphany emphasizing the prayerful adoration of the Wise Men towards the Infant King. This began in 1884 with the local pastor Fr. Echevarría. The celebration became more and more popular. In 1985 the Council of the Magi Kings decided to share their manner of celebrating this feast by exporting their Magi. The men specially selected and trained as Magi go on a pilgrimage of the Island of Puerto Rico and beyond sharing their tradition with other Parishes and towns. This is a special kind of evangelization I think.

Pope Francis said “The Magi thus personify all those who believe, those who long for God, who yearn for their home, their heavenly homeland. They reflect the image of all those who in their lives have let their hearts be anesthetized.

A holy longing for God wells up in the heart of believers because they know that the Gospel is not an event of the past but of the present. A holy longing for God helps us keep alert in the face of every attempt to reduce and impoverish our life. A holy longing for God is the memory of faith, which rebels before all prophets of doom. That longing keeps hope alive in the community of believers, which from week to week continues to plead: “Come, Lord Jesus”.

Submitted by Sr. Barbara McIntyre, MSBT while in Ponce, Puerto Rico

CATEGORIES

  • Mother Boniface Spirituality Center Blog (12)
  • MSBT Blog (20)
  • News (17)
  • Sr. Deb's Blog (21)

ARCHIVES

  • February 2021 (2)
  • January 2021 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (5)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (1)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (2)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (4)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • November 2018 (1)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • January 2018 (2)
  • December 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (2)
  • July 2017 (2)
  • June 2017 (3)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (2)
  • January 2017 (3)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • November 2016 (2)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (2)

CALENDAR

February 2021
M T W T F S S
« Jan    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity
  • Who We Are
  • Spirituality Centers
  • Vocations
  • Volunteering
  • Donations
3501 Solly Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136 | (215) 335-7500
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
© 2016 Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity. All rights reserved
Site development by Symmetrical Design