Solemnity ofThe Epiphany of the Lord

4 January 2015Adoration of the Magi

Giotto di Bondone (1304-06)

Saint CeciliaP A R I S H

Welcome to Saint Cecilia Parish, a Roman Catholic community that gathers day by day, week by week, to know and make known the grace of God. By means of this abundant grace, we enjoy a diverse and close-knit parish family—young, old, rich, poor, of various ethnic origins and differing backgrounds. From our extraordinary music program to a growing children’s faith formation program; from the various liturgical ministries to the many opportunities for social outreach that the parish provides, Saint Cecilia is a vibrant community of faith, centered on prayer and worship that tries to keep the Gospel close to heart and to live by Jesus’ teachings.

Saint Cecilia Parish was established in 1888. At that time the Back Bay section of Boston along Commonwealth Avenue and Beacon Street was the residential section of the Yankee aristocracy. The maids (“Irish working out girls”) and coachmen who served these residents had long requested a church of their own. When Archbishop Williams granted their request and carved the parish from the territory of the Cathedral, they built a magnificent church out of their meager earnings.

The church was dedicated on April 22, 1894. Its architecture is Romanesque, XII Century Norman. The main altar, notable for its massive simplicity, was carved from a single block of white Carrara marble. The painting in the center reredos is a reproduction of da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the dome above is an array of 24K gold rosettes.

For the sixtieth anniversary celebration in 1954, a massive renovation project was under-taken. During this renovation, a statue of Pope Saint Pius X (canonized that same year) was imported from Italy and placed on the right side of the sanctuary. Above the statue are paintings from Pius’ life. On the left side is a statue of Saint Patrick, principal patron of the Archdiocese of Boston, and above it are three scenes from his life.

Fourteen circular and sixteen square panels adorn the nave and arches of the church. The square panels are decorated with the symbols of Our Lady taken from the Litany of Loreto and the circular ones with symbols taken from the lives of the apostles. The great window of the Assumption—framed by the two oak cases of the organ—was installed in 1954 (the Marian Year) in spaces originally designed for windows but not until then used.

The original organ of 24 stops was built in 1902 by the Hutchings-Votey Organ Company, Opus 1465, and was rebuilt in 1954 with 32 stops. In 1998, Timothy Smith and Theodore Gilbert began a massive reconstruction of the organ. The current Smith & Gilbert Organ of 4 manuals, 50 ranks, and 2,926 pipes was dedicated on the Feast of Saint Cecilia, November 22, 1999.

Today we are experiencing something of an awakening within these old walls. We recently completed a major renovation, our numbers are increasing, and we continue to grow in our commitment to issues of peace, justice, and service to our neighbors, both near and far.

We’ve been right here on Belvidere Street, in the same building for 126 years, but that does not mean that life here is stale, stagnant, or even predictable. We are proud to be entrusted with the legacy of Saint Cecilia Parish, where everything is the same, yet always changing; where we honor tradition while embracing the future; where God’s love makes all things new.

welcome!

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our community news

Ministers of the Liturgy

Saturday | 5:00 p.m.Rev. Peter Grover, OMV, celebrantChris Orrell, lector

Sunday | 8:00 a.m.Most Rev. Arthur Kennedy, celebrantDave Curry, lector

Sunday | 9:30 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantMichele Maniscalco, Nikko Mendoza, & Bob Mann, lectors Sunday | 11:15 a.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantChristopher Loh & Maggie Loh, lectors

Sunday | 6:00 p.m.Rev. John Unni, celebrantPearse Martin and Jennifer Polley, lectors

today’s readingsIsaiah 60:1-6Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6Matthew 2:1-12

next sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 55:1-111 John 5:1-9Mark 1:7-11

Special intentions

Sunday, January 4 | 11:15 a.m.Raymond Hoffmann, Memorial

Sunday, January 4 | 11:15 a.m.Jean Hazecamp, Memorial

The Adoration of the Magi Giotto di Bondone (c. 1320)

The Epiphany of the Lord

The Epiphany of the Lord is one of the great solemni-ties of the liturgical year. Traditionally celebrated on January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, it is so im-portant that in many countries, including the United States, it is transferred to the nearest Sunday when it doesn't happen to fall on a Sunday. On Christmas day we celebrate the Word becoming flesh; on Epiphany we celebrate the news getting out — the revelation of this amazing happening to the world. Epiphany comes to us from the East as its Greek name indicates. The word means "manifestation," "showing forth," or "rev-elation." In the Eastern Churches, this day is a triple celebration of the revealing of Christ to the Magi; to people gathered at the Jordan when Jesus was baptized by John; and to the wedding guests at Cana. While the Church in the West emphasizes the visit of the Magi to the infant Christ today, with the Baptism of the Lord commemorated next Sunday, a hint of the ancient ori-gins of Epiphany survives in one of today's antiphons for Evening Prayer: "Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation."

PRAYErs & Occasions

Our SickPlease pray for all our sick and for those who are inneed of our prayer, especially Jennifer Serpico, JanIgras, Rudy Kikel, Annette Kulas, Steven Whitkens,Anthony Simboli, Jeanne Tibbs, Lisa Caputo, AnneFrenette Handly, Ruth Frost, Roséa Aubrey, BrennaSmith, Mildred McLaughlin, Susanne Coyne, DomenicIannaccone, Ken Bennett, Cameron Robinson, PaulClaveau, Jaheel Robinson, Robert Lupis, MichaelClaveau, Max Tubman, David Worster, Derek Schall,Susan Noll, Jennifer Murdock, Julie Downey, MaryBroussard, Ivy Fray, Donna Thagard, Penny Maynard,Robert Kimball, Owen Kyes, Mark Schatzl, HugoCollamati, Chris Novosielski, Gayle Haley, MichalinaManiscalco, Niall O'Shaughnessy, Javier A. Sattler,Annie Flaherty, Pattie Geier, Bronis Morton, Patrick Trani, Colin Landry, Jake Mercier, Michael Patrick Kelly, Pilar Estrada, Ursula Seibert, Mark Anderson, Matty Goddard, Stephanie Merenda, Carlo Pagani, Shea Hammond, Bill Downing, Skyler Stevenson, Rob Morrissey, Nimet Yousif, Rev. Robert Quinn, CSP, Boris Chermak, Dennis Heaphy, Mary Yanez, Roberta Memann, Silvia Basagni, Brian Donnelly, Peter Webster, Liam Doyle, John Farris, Karen Thoresen, Jane Faust, Theresa Wier, and Yousef Jeribian.

Welcome to Saint Cecilia!We are pleased to welcome the following new membersof our parish who have recently registered: the Dionne-Lanier Family of South Boston; the Lucie Family of Arlington; Hui Zhang of Malden; Terri Reese of Chelsea; the Harrington Family of Westwood; the Martel Fam-ily of Newton; Kathleen Donohue of Boston; Jeanette Beltran of Boston; and Joseph Kosich and Kristen Shaw of Boston. If you have not previously registered with the parish, there are forms in the narthex for this purpose or you can register online at www.stceciliaboston.org.

BaptismsToday we celebrate baptism at the 9:30 a.m. liturgy for Benjamin James, son of Jamie Perencevich and Katie Laidlaw. At the 11:15 a.m. liturgy we celebrate baptism for Michael John Keenan, son of Chris and Amy Keenan and little brother Gabriel; and for Charles Thomas Kirk, son of Brian and Emily Kirk. The Christian community welcomes you with great joy, Benjamin, Michael, and Charles!

For Those Without the Love of FamilyPray for all who have no families, for those who arealienated from or rejected by their families—that theymay experience love and acceptance through thisChristian community.

For Those Who Are GrievingPray for all who are grieving, particularly children whohave lost parents and parents who have lost childrento violence—that they may know that God is with themand draw strength and hope from the Holy Family whoexperienced great loss and pain.

For Ongoing IncarnationPray for the grace to bring God into our world — that we may allow the Word to dwell in our hearts, become enfleshed through our lives, and revealed in our words and deeds.

For ReconciliationPray for reconciliation within families — that the Prince of Peace will heal old wounds, help us to recognize the gift that each person is, and lead us all into right rela-tionship.

For Persecuted ChristiansPray for Christians who are unable to celebrate because of persecution and oppression — that God will strengthen them, fill their hearts with hope, and help them to be signs of God's love and presence.

For the People Who Inhabit the Holy LandPray for for all who live in Bethlehem and the hill country of Judah; for Christians, Jews, and Muslims — that God’s spirit will open new pathways of peace and bring forth new hope for all who live in fear.

For Peace in Troubled Parts of the WorldPray for those who live amidst warfare and violence: that God will bring peace to their spirits and give them a new vision to help bring forth justice and peace in their land.

Six O'Clock Mass NoteThe six o'clock Mass will resume tonight, Sunday, January 4, for the Epiphany of the Lord.

Evening Prayer This ThursdayPlease join us for beautiful Evening Prayer this Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome!

Welcome, Bishop Kennedy!We are pleased to welcome The Most Rev. Arthur L. Kennedy who is the celebrant at this morning's eight o'clock liturgy. Bishop Kennedy serves as Auxiliary Bishop in our Archdiocese and as Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization.

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EPIPHANY DOOR BLESSING

20 + C + M + B + 14It is an Epiphany custom to inscribe with chalk the initials of the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, along with the numerals of the new year, over the main doorway of your house or apartment. Traditionally, the letters and numbers are inscribed in this format:20 + C + M + B + 14. In addition to the letters being the initials of the traditional names of the three Magi, they also abbreviate the Latin words “Christus mansionem benedicat,” or “May Christ bless the house.”

At Saint Cecilia, we pray that we will be a welcom-ing presence for all who pass through our doors; we pray that we will welcome everyone without judgment or prejudice. You are invited to take home a piece of blessed chalk with you today and say a prayer of bless-ing at your door. This is one option:

Loving God,

We pray through the intercession of the Magi,Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, that you helpus create a home of peace and love.

Give to those who pass through the doorways ofthis house, an awareness of your presence withintheir hearts.

Bless our comings and our goings. Watch over us andover all our guests; when we leave, bless our journeysand bring us safely home.

We ask this through Jesus, your Son and our Lord.

Amen.

CONCERT: CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI'S VESPERS OF 1610 MONDAY, JANUARY 12 @ 7:30 P.M.Green Mountain Project - TENETScott Metcalfe, DirectorTickets: $10-100, 20% discount for Saint Cecilia parishioners using code Cecilia20

Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.showclix.com/event/3879429, by calling 888-718-4253, or at the door. Credit cards are accepted.

concert: THE SERAPHIM SINGERSFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 @ 7:00 P.M.Jennifer Lester, DirectorAdmission: $20 for Adults, $10 for Students & Seniorswww.seraphimsingers.org

National Migration WeekIn the United States, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord marks the beginning of National Migration Week. The Magi were on the move, pilgrims following a star; and in the face of Herod's fury, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus would become refugees, fleeing into Egypt. Chris-tians everywhere are called to extend a helping hand to those who are suffering, alone, and on the verge of despair. This year's theme for National Migration Week is "Out Of The Darkness." Migrants and particularly the most vulnerable migrants: children, the undocumented, refugees, and victims of human trafficking, often find themselves existing in a kind of figurative darkness where their options remain limited and their ability to live out their lives in its fullness severely restricted. Of-ten at risk of violence or exploitation these vulnerable populations need to be provided the support needed so that they can thrive. Pray that the Lord will soften our hearts and help us to bring the light of Christ to these populations, banish the darkness, and help to bring them from the margins of society to its center.

women's spiritual reading groupCome find a contemplative spot in your Sunday with the "Women's Spiritual Reading Group." On Sunday, January 11, we will be discussing "An Irrational Season," excerpt by Madeline L'Engle (children's and adult fiction and non fiction writer.) We meet in Classroom 5. RSVP to katherinesepulv@gmail.com.

DRIVERS NEEDEDEach month parishioners have the opportunity to pick up donated meat, dairy products, and produce from three local supermarkets and deliver it to either Catholic Charities' Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester or the Pine Street Inn in the South End. This vital ministry takes place at 7:30 on Saturday and Sunday mornings and on Sundays can be completed in time to attend the 9:30 parish Mass. Here are our upcoming dates:

• January 10 and January 11• January 24 and January 25• February 7 and February 8

If you are interested in helping, please email Mark Lippolt at mlippolt@hammondre.com.

OFFERTORY COMMITMENT PROGRAM We wish to thank all of you who have enrolled in the Offertory Commitment Program. This program has been very helpful in allowing us to better plan and budget for the needs of the parish. If you are not currently participat-ing in the OCP, but would like to start, please contact Mark Donohoe at 617-536-4548 or mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.org.

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WHOLE BODY PRAYERAN INVITATION TO PRAY WITH HEART, MIND, AND BODYTHROUGH BREATH AND MOVEMENT

You are invited to join us for a gentle yoga practiceinspired by the readings of the week and share anembodied experience of the Word. Over the course ofone hour, we will practice a sequence of standing yogaposes in a slow, rhythmic flow, moving with attention tobreath; and finish with seated, restorative postures thatoffer a meditative space for prayer and reflection. Noprevious yoga experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing, & bring your own mat & water bottle. Classes occur from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in class-room CL5. Please email fellow parishioner andyoga teacher, Lara Gómez, at wbprayer.sc@gmail.comto learn of upcoming classes and reserve your spot, as space is limited. Drop-ins will be welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. A donation of $5 per class will be collected, and it is requested that participants sign up for the 4-week session, where possible.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES' FOOD PANTRY

Saint Cecilia has committed to providing these items to the Catholic Charities' food pantry at its Yawkey Center in Dorchester: Cheerios or cornflakes, peanut butter, white flour pasta and spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, canned tuna fish, canned chicken breast, and tomato sauce. While any canned or shelf-stable items are ap-preciated, it is particularly helpful when parishioners can help with the staples listed above. Because food is delivered only twice a month to the Catholic Charities' food pantry, we cannot accept donations of baked items or produce in the narthex.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

We appreciate the thoughtfulness of parishioners who have made bequests to the parish. These gifts help us build a solid foundation for future generations. If you have already made provisions in your will for our parish, please advise either Father John or Mark Donohoe at the parish office so that we can ensure your wishes are carried out as you intend.

NEXT REFRESH MEETING IS JAN. 6REFRESH is a monthly prayer group for young adults (ages 22-40) who wish to learn and grow from one an-other through reflecting on the Word and studying the bible. We break bread together by going out for snacks or drinks after our meeting, enjoy communing with each other both inside and outside of church and have weekly reflection emails to stay connected throughout the week. For more info or to RSVP for the next meet-ing, please contact Natasha Pierre at natasha.m.pierre@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

DONE TIME?Men who have been incarcerated are invited to join the Prison & After group which is designed to provide participants with a sense of welcome and support. The meetings are held on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Pastoral Center. We will begin with a group session followed by a simple meal. For infor-mation, please contact Tom Ash at whatevertp@gmail.com or Peg Newman at peg3newman@msn.com.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Our ability to build community is helped by having an up–to–date database of registered parishioners. If this is one of your first times worshipping with us, welcome! If you have been participating in liturgies here for a few months — or even a few years — and have never registered, please consider doing so. It takes just a few moments to fill out a parish registration form. Once you complete your form, simply drop it in the collection basket, hand it to any staff person, or mail it to the parish office. Registration forms can be found on a table in the narthex. You can also register on–line at www.stceciliaboston.org/register.html. Thank you for being an active member of our community!

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP Beacon Hospice Care Center, The Schrafft's Center 529 Main Street - Suite 101, CharlestownJan. 13 & 27, Feb. 10 & 24, Mar. 10 & 24 - 10-11:30 a.m.

Evidence shows that a bereavement group can help facilitate the process of healing. The "Stepping Stones" support group meetings are free of charge. Contact Nancy Duffy to pre-register at 617-242-8370.

TWEETS FROM THE POPE

The family is a community of love where each of us learns to relate to others and

to the world around us.

SAINT CECILIA YOUNG ADULTSYoung Adults ages 20-40 exploring their faith through fellowship and service

Interested to learn more about upcoming events and fellowships? Join our e-mail list at scyoungadults@gmail.com.Looking for more leadership opportunities? The SCYA Planning Committee meets the first week of every month.

E-mail Carly Caminiti to learn how to become more involved at scyoungadults@gmail.com.

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A year of Saint Cecilia Young Adults memories...

2014

Faith, Fellowship, and Friendship

Service to Others

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The Abruzzi and Bufalini FamilyMina AnaninsviliJoseph ArtherCatherine AylwardAntonio R. BelginiDaisy M. BenedictKarl T. Benedict, Sr.Ettore BergamaschiEleanore BienkowskiWilliam BitnerChuck and Betty BotoshRichard H. BordeauDonald K. BoydGrandma BoyleJohn BraitMarion BransfieldDr. Anthony John BravoTeresa and Dominick BravoDorothy BriggsLouise BrogioliUrsula BruerMary and Malcolm BryantCatherine Long BuckleyJessica CabralJeanne CahillWilliam CahillRobert CahillBob CahillJocelyn CallahanElsie CallewaertNana CarneyWilfred and Laurette CarrierTeresa CasoJohn Alan CatesLuigi CavacciniGilda CavallacciJohn CoghlanPeter ColaresseSean CollierJoe and Mickey Contilli

Richard K. CorcoranFrancis CottonMadeline CottonGret CowleyMary CowleyMsgr. John F. CoxMaria G. CoyleThomas and Anne CoyneLeo Kiley CretiAnthony Joseph CristelloTommy CrokeNona CrokeLeo CrokeHattie Mae CunninghamSally CurtinCarlos DaponteDelia DaponteRobert Emmett DeignahFerdinando DelfilippiJudith DeMarcoThe DeMers FamilyKathy DevinJames T. DillonAgnes H. DillonAuntie DireneJohn DolanJames L. DonathanEdmond DonlanRosella DonlanJack and Eleanor DonohoeGeorge J. Doran, Sr.Brian Wieth DoyleRoberta Maxine DoyleFrederick and Katherine DoyleArthur DunnettAynsley DupreMariola DupreWilliam P. ElliottKathleen ElliottRobert Elliott

Stephen EllisJohn FaldettaMary FaldettaAlfonsina FaldettaFranchi and Mancini FamiliesAnthony FarinelliJohn FarinelliDeceased Members of the

Feeley FamilyCharlie FentonMicahel FischerRick ForresterJohn ForresterThe Frost FamilyOwen and Pearl FrenchPeter GallaghnBetty GarciaMike GarciaUnita GarveyThe Gélinas and Phillips FamiliesLillian GibbonsFrank GibbonsKit GillSarah Jane GilmoreRobert Clayton GilmoreJohn and Mary GreeneMickey GreenRobert J. GriffinJames J. GriffinLucy B. GriffinLucy Anne GriffinMary GriffinMichell GriffinLucy A. GriffinMary L. HarleyPatricia C. HarleyEdward W. Harley IIIEdward W. Harley, Jr.Marguerite T. HarrisHunter Ryan Herdlicka

CHRISTMAS FLOWERSJesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead;

to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5-6)

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Raymond HoffmanKathleen HoganTom HoganGeorge J. HolmanBryce HoltonLeah HoltonThomas HoltonThomas and Florence HoranRoberta Maxine HowardWanda HowardCarol HowlandConder HughesHenry HryniewiczElizabeth JohnMarlene and Rodriguez JosephRita and George KaneM. Joseph Kane FamilyJohn KassabianAngela KaupowichJohn KeenanNadia KileyPaul KileyJohn KileyTony J. KimHollis KingGarnet KingThe Kline FamilySergei KononenkoRene and Dottie L'AbbeMargaret and George LakschwitzClara LandryEmelia Marie LandryAnita and Xenophon LangosPeter LanzettiThe LaPiana Family Mr. and Mrs. LarsonJohn and Annie LehanKenneth LeiblingHamilton L. LewisRaquel LicoMaris LiepaAndris LiepaPeter and Ruby LimJoseph A. LippoltAlice LittletonLoretta LombardiBarbara and John MacDonald

Fred MagleroPaul MaguireGerry and Bridie MaloneyMario MarianiMaria MartuusLloyd McIntoshCJ MickaluisRita and Bill MillerJeff MonroeFrancis X. MorseMargaret MorseBill MullinDorothy MullinFrank MullinJohn Mulvilk FamilyElizabeth and Ed MurphyClare MurphyFrank MurphyDennis MurphyDeceased Members of the

Murphy FamilyTerry NewloveMarian NicoliniIrma NicoliniGrace NisbetEugenia ObraztsovaYolanda OrozosXander ParishIlda PeterElizabeth W. PinoJohn and Phyllis PiraniMildred PlueBe PowdFrancesco ProvenzanoVirginia PuigDeceased Members of the

Quigley and Cooney FamiliesJan Quigley McGinnStephanie and Michael J. RemoRaymundo RiosAurelio RolloNancy RondenelliAngelo D. RoppoloMargaret M. RoppoloMary RosewitzEdgar and Josephine RoyWilliam Russell

Marlene RussellSergei SalikovMary and Anthony SammartinoWilhelm SamuelSantoro and Coleman FamiliesFred ScheveCharles F. SchwartzEvelyn ScottFred SennPeter ShatswellSusan ShaughnessyBill and Anna SheehanDeceased Members of the

Sheridan FamilyVladimir ShklyarovPaul and Mary SiebertPil-Yun SonSoon-Ok Bae SonDoris SouzaDaniel SouzaJane Caroline StadolnikAnastasia StanleyDorothy StarzykWilliam Starzyk, Jr.Earl StricklerBeth Ann StricklerGeorgette SullivanMary SullivanMichael and Frances SweeneyErnest SwitanowskiLicia TamburiniJaqueline TherraJohn and Nadine TroppyJoseph and Katheryn TurnesDr. Ignatius Joseph TurnesFrank J. UnniGregg Van NostrandBrian Van NostrandMargaret and Louis VendittiWalley, Bingham, and Volk FamiliesDeceased Members of the

Westover FamilyDiane M. WirtzRobert YobaccioHenry Loke Yow SengFrida Zeghini

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By GUY CONSOLMAGNO, SJ

What do we know about the Star that, according to Matthew’s Gospel, guided the Magi to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus? Was it just a feature that Matthew added to his narrative to convey a particular message to his readers, or was there an astronomical event to which he was referring? Vatican astronomer, Guy Consolmagno, SJ presents various theories about the Star of Bethlehem…but should we be preoccu-pied with calculations and planetary conjunctions?

‘Do you sit around the Vatican commissary,’ the report-er asked me, ‘discussing what the Star of Bethlehem might have been?’

I guess he was puzzled as to what actually goes on at the Vatican Observatory (http://www.vaticanobserva-tory.org/), where I work as an astronomer. At least he asked. A few years ago, a reporter for The Independent stated with great authority (and without actually both-ering to get in touch with us) that the chief business of the Vatican Observatory was indeed to determine the nature of the Star of Bethlehem. He obviously hadn’t done his research; years earlier, the Chicago Tribune had asserted, with equal authority, that our real task was to cast the Pope’s horoscopes!

And in fact, at lunch today the question of the Star of Bethlehem did come up: ‘Italian television wants to come here and film a story about the Star. What do we tell them?’

The whole question of ‘what was the Star of Bethle-hem,’ asked of a Vatican astronomer, has hidden within it all sorts of wildly wrong assumptions. It assumes that our position at the Vatican gives us some special insight into the issue. (It doesn’t. We don’t know anything more than anyone else who’s looked casually into the issue.) It assumes that there is some factual ‘answer’ that can be demonstrated in the same way, mysteri-

ous to most journalists; that science seems to speak definitively on lots of other things. (There isn’t; and for

that matter, it doesn’t. Sci-ence describes nature, it tries to explain nature, but our descriptions and explanations are never definitive. They are always open to further refine-ments and development.)And it assumes that the astronomical question is the question that’s most interest-ing. In fact, to me it’s merely the teaser of a much deeper puzzle about the whole Star of Bethlehem story.

When I go back and read those twelve verses in Mat-thew’s Gospel (2:1-12) my own first reaction is to ask, ‘what was that all about?’

The easiest way to deal with this story is to assume it is a pious tale, probably written to signify that Jesus was as much a king as any secular ruler. Caesar Augustus, after all, used astrological signs to shore up his legiti-macy as Rome’s emperor. More subtly, it can be read as a foreshadowing of how the message of Jesus would find fertile ground among the Gentiles.

But there are some nagging problems with that simple explanation.

Were such ‘pious tales’ common enough among the culture in which Matthew’s Gospel was written that any-one reading this back then would have understood that it was meant to be taken symbolically? We can’t say for sure; while there’s plenty that was written in the Chris-tian milieu in the century following the gospels, there isn’t a whole lot of other literature that specifically came from the same time and place as the gospels, except for the gospels themselves.

Is the outreach to the Gentiles a big part of Matthew’s Gospel, or was he speaking more to a Jewish audience? One can see both sides argued among the scholars; the Magi story itself is cited as one of the chief bits of evidence for supporting the former view, so that

Looking for the Star, or Coming to Adore?

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doesn’t really get us much further.

There’s another question that bothers me: if this is a pious story about wise Gentiles accepting Jesus, why would such ‘wise men’ be seen as coming from the east? Why have the wise men not come from Greece or Rome, the source of culture and wisdom during that epoch, and the home of the Gentiles who were coming into Matthew's Church?

And why were they astrologers?

Astrology held a most peculiar position in ancient Jewish culture. On the one hand, the study of astrology for forecasting the future was strongly forbidden in any number of places in Hebrew scripture. Where modern astronomers think astrology is wrong because it doesn’t work, the Jews recognised it as morally wrong, on theo-logical grounds. Asserting the controlling power of the stars denies the power of God.

But that doesn’t mean the Jews didn’t believe in it. My Jewish friends tell me that you can find mosaics of the zodiac in ancient synagogues. They knew that casting horoscopes was a bad thing to do; but they accepted the whole cosmology of their time and place, and the best science of their day taught them that the complex and bizarre changes that occur in human affairs could find their parallel in the complex and at time bizarre motions of the planets.

For example, the Jewish historian, Josephus in The Jewish War refers to astrological signs when describing the destruction of the Temple:

Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied God himself; while they did not attend nor give credit to the signs that were so evident, and did so plainly

foretell their future desolation, but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that God made to them. Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. (Book IV, Ch 5, Sec. 3).

There is in fact a Jewish parallel to the Matthew story in a midrash on the birth of Abraham, which describes how his birth was foretold by astrologers as a threat to the king of Babylon, such that Abraham wound up being hidden for three years from the soldiers of the king. Scholars can argue how much this story and that of Matthew influenced one another; for our purposes, it’s enough to note its existence as evidence of the complex attitude of Judaism towards astrology.

In any event, I can only leave open the possibility that the story in Matthew is a parable with a message, but not a factual account of an actual astronomical event.

Of course, the other extreme is also possible. Maybe there was a totally miraculous star, zooming about the sky like a UFO, guiding three kings to the stable in Bethlehem.

I don’t particularly like this interpretation either, how-ever. For one thing, it’s internally inconsistent. Why wouldn’t anyone in Jerusalem notice such a star?

And it is inconsistent with the way we see God acting, over and over again, in salvation history. God has the power to create such a UFO, for sure. But in the same way, He also had the power to send Jesus into the world fully grown, a Deity dressed up in a man-suit like some eastern avatar, surrounded by unmistakable pomp and power: the image of the expected messiah that no one could have mistaken. Instead, as always, God showed what we might call supernatural restraint: choosing instead to come as an infant, born into the world as any other human, and subject to the very laws that He had used to form this universe.

And so what would be so out of line to time this birth with a divine coincidence, a chance arrangement of stars and planets?

A sign, by its very nature, means something out of the ordinary. But the one thing about the stars is that, with certain exceptions, they are orderly and predictable. The same constellations appear during the same seasons every year, and any change in their positions is so slow

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as to be undetectable by the human eye during one person’s lifetime.

Among those exceptions are stars that suddenly go ‘nova’—or, more impressively, ‘supernova’. A nova, where a faint star briefly becomes a bright star, is no-

table if you know the stars well, but other-wise might go unnoticed. These happen

fairly often, however; probably one is visible to the naked eye every ten years or so. That hardly seems spectacular enough to announce the coming of a messiah.

Supernovae are spectacular and unusual lights in the sky; if close

enough to us, they can be seen even in the daytime. That would certainly

be an attention-grabber. And they are far rarer. It has been 400 years since the last naked-

eye supernova occurred in our galaxy. However, they do leave behind remnants. Even with a small telescope you can see the Crab Nebula, the remains of a supernova that occurred in 1054 AD. But there are no unaccounted-for remains of a supernova from two thousand years ago.

Comets are another spectacular and startling sign in the sky. However, they were universally interpreted as signs of doom, not joy at the birth of a king. See how Josephus referred to them in the passage quoted above, an example of the Jewish attitude contemporary with the gospels.

Planets do change their positions among the stars (hence their name; the word means ‘wanderers’). Most attempts at working out a possible astronomi-cal explanation for the star of Bethlehem look for interesting or unusual chance conjunctions of the planets. Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century, armed for the first time with accurate positions of the planets (which he got from Tycho Brahe's observations) and his new theory for planetary motions in ellipses about the Sun, immediately tried playing this game by making tedious calculations of planetary positions for the time of Christ. Nowadays, anyone with a laptop can plug the date ‘December 25, 1 BC’ (or whenever you think is a more likely birthday) into your favorite plan-etarium software package and see where the planets would have been.

The trick, though, is to find a solution that is consistent with the temporal setting of Matthew (probably in the

spring, when shepherds would be out at night tend-ing their flocks, in a year while Herod was still alive and king); consistent with the description of the ‘star’ (something to do with its rising); consistent with an explanation of how it would indicate the birth of a king, and how Judea would be indicated as the location of this birth; and consistent with the apparent fact that only astrologers were wise to this event.

My own personal favorite solution to these constraints is in Michael Molnar’s 2000 book, The Star of Bethlehem. He argues that there was a conjunction of all the plan-ets and the new Moon, similar to that used by Augustus to support his own royal birth, occurring in the constel-lation Aries (which he argues is connected with Judea), in late March of 4 BC. Most appealing, this conjunction occurred when the planets rose with the Sun in the east —hence fitting the Matthew description, while explaining why only astrologers were aware of this event. They could calculate its occurrence, but no one, not even them, would actually see these planets: they’d be hid-den in the glare of the rising Sun.

It’s all quite neat. And indeed it’s rather startling to realise that such an event really did occur in the sky about the time when Jesus may well have been born. If you have a planetarium program, you can look it up for yourself.

But was this really what Matthew was talking about? There’s hardly a consensus on this point. My fellow Vatican astronomer, Fr Chris Corbally, has described a completely different set of conjunctions at http://

www.alivepublishing.co.uk/faith-today-articles/the-cosmology-of-the-magi. We’ll never know for sure. And perhaps that’s just as well.

Because the real message is outside the realm of astronomical calculations. The events that draw

each one of us to encounter our Saviour are rooted in our own lives, our own histories, our own belief systems. Every such set of events is inherently improbable. And thus, we each have our own unique story to tell of how we wound up worshiping at the manger.

And those are stories too important for idle chat at the Vatican commissary, too personal for yet another journalist’s notebook. For, like the Magi, the very core of our being is expressed in the path we have chosen, by the stars that have guided us.

Guy Consolmagno, SJ is an astronomer at the Vatican Observatory.

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SAINT CECILIA PARISH

Parish RESOURCESParish Office & Mailing Address18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA 02115Hours | Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.Phone | 617 536 4548Fax | 617 536 1781E-mail | info@stceciliaboston.orgWebsite | www.stceciliaboston.org

Parish StaffRev. John J. Unni, PastorMark Donohoe, Pastoral Associate for Administration, mdonohoe@stceciliaboston.orgScott J. MacDonald, Director of Faith Formation and Leadership Development, smacdonald@stceciliaboston.orgJeanne Bruno, Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach, jbruno@stceciliaboston.orgRichard J. Clark, Director of Music and Organist, rclark@stceciliaboston.orgCaroline Gélinas, Executive Assistant,cgelinas@stceciliaboston.orgMaureen Sullivan, Special Projects Manager,msullivan@stceciliaboston.orgJim Tomlinson, Parish Intern,jtomlinson@stceciliaboston.org

Assisting ClergyRev. Mr. Ryan Duns, SJRev. Thomas Gariepy, CSCRev. Peter Grover, OMVRev. James Shaughnessy, SJRev. George Winchester, SJ

Schedule for LiturgyWednesday, Thursday, & Friday | 8:00 a.m.Lord’s Day | Sat 5:00 p.m.; Sun 8:00, 9:30, 11:15 a.m., & 6:00 p.m.Holy Days | 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

ReconciliationBy appointment at any time.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the communal process through which non-baptized men and women become members of the Catholic Church. It is also suitable for those baptized in different faith traditions who are interested in becoming Catholic, or, for those who were baptized Catholic, but have yet to receive the sacraments of eucharist and confirmation. For more information, please contact Scott MacDonald.

Small Group Adult Faith FormationDrop in for an hour of reflection/discussion on the week's scripture readings. Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Pastoral Center Café, and at 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. in classroom CL3. For more information, please contact stceciliasmallgroups@gmail.com.

Baptism for InfantsInfant baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. For more information, please contact Mark Donohoe.

Faith Formation for ChildrenTo register your child for our Faith Formation Program, please contact Scott MacDonald in the parish office.

MarriageCouples who wish to prepare for marriage should contact Mark Donohoe in the parish office at least six months in advance.

Care of the SickTo arrange for the Sacrament of the Sick, for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, or for Viaticum for the Dying (Holy Communion for those in danger of death), please contact the parish office. It is always possible to anoint the sick during regularly scheduled liturgies.

Order of Christian FuneralsThe parish is prepared to celebrate the Vigil (wake) in the church. Please contact the parish office for more information.

Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) TeamThe CAP Team is responsible for training all parish staff and volunteers in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children program (VIRTUS). They also provide consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse and neglect. Please contact Lois Flaherty (loisflaherty@gmail.com), Maria Roche (maria.roche15@gmail.com) or Letitia Howland (l_howland@hotmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns.

The Archdiocese of Boston has in place a vigorous program to protect children from harm and to educate its ministers and faithful about the nature of abuse, with a goal of increasing knowledge, creating a safe environment for children, and recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations. The full text of the policy is also available in the narthex and parish office, as well as on our website.

For Those with Celiac DiseaseIf you have celiac disease, please let us know. We have a supply of low-gluten altar bread available for those who cannot tolerate gluten.

Hearing Assistance in ChurchThe church is equipped with an FM listening device. Small receivers are available for anyone who may have trouble hearing the sound system. Simply request a receiver from any one of our greeters before Mass.

Access for the DisabledThe church is accessible by elevator.

Sunday ParkingReduced-rate parking is available on Sundays at the Prudential Centerparking garage and at the Hilton Boston Back Bay. Be sure to have one of our greeters validate your parking ticket before returning to your car.

Saint Cecilia Rainbow MinistrySaint Cecilia Rainbow Ministry is a GLBTQ community at Saint Cecilia. For more information, contact stceciliarainbowministry@gmail.com.

Joining Our CommunityWe’re happy that you’re with us! Our community offers a warm, spiritual home for a diverse group of Catholics. We come from many neighborhoods in and around Boston but also have parishioners from as far afield as Marlborough, Newburyport, and Stow. Please introduce yourself to a staff member, drop in for coffee on Sunday, or fill out a new parishioner form in the narthex. No matter what your background, please know that you are always welcome at Saint Cecilia.