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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Little Christmas

Fr. David Friel · January 7, 2013

S A STUDENT in grade school & high school, I always “brown-bagged” my lunch. Every day of first through twelfth grades, I ate a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and some type of granola bar. In grade school, I would have a Capri Sun to drink, and in high school I switched to bottled water. So the contents of my brown bag were usually exactly the same. On a few select days, though, my mom would sneak something extra into my lunch. One of those days was always my birthday, and another one was January 6th, the Epiphany—what she would always call “Little Christmas.” Each year, I would discover a little wrapped present in my lunch bag on January 6th. That was my mom’s way of celebrating the Epiphany with us.

Why do people give gifts? What is the point of gift-giving? It’s certainly about more than just transferring items from one person to another. Most people give gifts to people they care about, which tells us something about the meaning of gift giving. We give gifts to recognize the value—the intrinsic worth—of the person to whom we’re giving the gift. So, when we give someone a gift, we are saying that we value that person.

The feast of the Epiphany recalls the day on which the three kings brought gifts to the newborn Baby Jesus. They brought gifts because they valued, respected, & appreciated this Baby. Each of their gifts represents something about Whom they believed this Child to be.

The first king brought gold. Gold was a precious metal, reserved only for use in the palace and jewelry of a king. So, by bringing Jesus gold, the first wise man professed his faith that Jesus was his true King.

The second king brought frankincense. There was only one use for frankincense in the culture of the Jews. It was burned around-the-clock in the Temple at the “Altar of Incense.” So, just as we still use incense today, even then it was something reserved for the worship of God. By bringing Jesus frankincense, the second wise man professed his faith that Jesus was his God.

The third king brought myrrh. What is myrrh? Myrrh is a sort of perfume, and it had one major purpose in ancient cultures. It was the perfume used to anoint the body of someone who died. By bringing Jesus myrrh, the third wise man professed his faith that Jesus was his Savior. As Bishop Sheen put it, most people come into this world to live, whereas Jesus was born to die.

The three wise men brought gold, frankincense, & myrrh because they knew that He was a King, that He was God, and that He would one day die to set all men free. What gift are we bringing to Jesus right now? Perhaps we value the mercy God has shown us, so we’ll give Him the gift this week of being merciful to someone who bothers us. Maybe we value God’s peace, so we’ll give Him the gift of working toward peace in our family. When we assist at Mass, we offer to God bread and wine, which become His Sacred Body & Precious Blood.

It’s easy to give someone socks or a video game or a gift card. But, can we go so far as to give God our very hearts, entrusting everything to Him? It is hard, but it is necessary. After all, at Christmas, Jesus gave us the gift of Himself. Can we return the favor?

Giving a gift to someone is a sign that we care about the other person—that we value them. Those little wrapped gifts my mom would throw in my lunch bag might have been little, but they meant an awful lot. How pleased God would be with even the small gift of our entire lives!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (freely available at the same website). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it’s been posted at the feasts website, called by some: “church music’s best kept secret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“It was amusing to read in our papers that German Catholics were now using the vernacular at High Mass. In some parts of Germany they have been doing just that for well-nigh four hundred years! The cathedral in Osnabruck has solemn High Mass every Sunday with the whole chapter present, and the introit Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei are sung … in German. Imagine, for four hundred years almost!”

— Hans Ansgar Reinhold (Dec. 1944)

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