The Feast of the Epiphany
Has it really been two weeks since we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany? Already 2021 seems to be charging on without us. And yet the perfect stillness of the Adoration of the Magi is a peace we can return to again and again as we recognize the Sacred Presence of Our King. Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a Summit celebration without a little Dominican joy thrown in as well and there’s plenty of that to be found at our annual Epiphany Party!
It’s a long-standing tradition here at the monastery for our novitiate sisters to host a little get-together up in the novitiate Community Room during Recreation – although, we think it’s as much to show off their Christmas decorating as it is to keep the professed sisters properly plied with ice-cream. (There’s usually a decent spread of Christmas goodies!) It is a special treat, though, for the older sisters, since the novitiate is usually reserved for those in formation. Lit with the soft glow of candles (and the slightly less soft blaze of a plethora of well-placed Christmas lights) it’s an atmosphere of warm and hearty communion.
The highlight of the night is undoubtedly the crowning of the ‘Three Kings’, however, and after discovering that our very own Chaplain didn’t know the tradition, we’ve decided to share a little about it with all of you. Every year at breakfast on the Feast of the Epiphany, three lucky sisters are blessed to discover a little something in their breakfast bread – be it a little hazelnut or, as it was this year, a large chunk of chocolate! Hidden discreetly by our accomplished bakers, these concealed prizes are more precious than any Golden Ticket, because they signal that the three sisters who receive them are our ‘Three Kings’ for the year. This comes with a great many honors, not least of which is the chocolate. Undoubtedly, though, the honor most cherished is the offering of a Mass in our chapel for the Three Kings’ intentions.
The crowning on the night of the party is a close second, and there’s a festive feeling of love as the sisters are placed in the center of the community on three chairs while everyone sings a rousing rendition of, you guessed it, ‘We Three Kings’. This year, we celebrated Sr. Mary Ana, Sr. Mary Veronica, and our dear Sr. Maria Agnes, who only just celebrated her 90th birthday the day before! They were crowned with some very special crowns by our prioress who then led us in singing a few carols accompanied on the piano.
This year, we had an unexpected addition to this musical interlude! Thanks to a very generous benefactor and long-time friend of the community, we each received a ‘musical cracker’. (Sr. Maria Rose, shocked at learning that Christmas crackers were not the tradition here as they were back home, led us all in a ‘Cracker Drill’ to open them.) Each contained a small plastic whistle, perfectly pitched to create a combined whistle choir, with each sister in charge of a different note. While the first experiments with our little orchestra were middling at best, we were all determined to be performing a perfectly harmonized version of ‘The Carol of the Whistles’ by next year!
All in all, the evening tends to fade into the Compline Bell with laughter and a little Irish Cream (only a little!) and it is one greatly treasured as we share the special comfort of the welcoming of our Savior.
