On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...Epiphany!

Today we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany - celebrating the revelation of God to man!

Unlike in the U.S. where the Feast is moved to Sunday, Austrians celebrate it on January 6 - following the twelfth day of Christmas.  It is a public holiday - no work, no school, stores are closed.  We went to Mass at Kartause this morning - and enjoyed seeing the Three Wise Men statues now bowing before Baby Jesus. 

At night, we went to the nearby city of Scheibbs (where we do our regular grocery shopping) - and joined in their procession of the Three Wise Men following the Star of Bethlehem to Baby Jesus - on horse back.  (I guess no camels were available?! :)

We ended at the Parish Church before the elaborate Nativity Scene (which most churches we've been in this Christmas have displayed).

Before departing, the Magi bowed before Baby Jesus at the Altar.

We were so moved by the Three Wise Men's traveling to Bethlehem -- that we decided to follow in their footsteps!  At the end of the week we'll be leaving for our trip to visit Bethlehem and other places in the Holy Land!  If you have any special prayer intentions that you'd like us to bring on our pilgrimage, we'll write them down and leave them at the Western Wall - just message us.  Please pray for our safe travels!