A message from the Salesian Studies Office:

Epiphany Traditions

“…Let us come close to the crib. If you love riches, you will find the gold that the kings brought; if you are looking for the smoke of honors, you will find that in the incense; and if you take delight in the delicacies of the senses, you will find the delicate perfume of myrrh that pervades the stable. Be rich in love for this adorable Savior, respectful in the familiarity with which you relate to Him, and delight in the joy of experiencing in your soul so many inspirations and affections because you belong exclusively to Him.”
Source:  Saint Francis de Sales,  Letters 1033

Happy new year, happy Epiphany! This week we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord. Saint Francis de Sales invites us to bring our hearts to the crèche and reminds us of our daily opportunities to follow the star of Bethlehem and be the light of Christ for others.

Many traditions and customs are celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Magi followed the star to Bethlehem, presented gifts to the newborn King, and rejoiced in the joy and presence of the Christ child. The Visitation Sisters commemorated Epiphany with annual events and special celebrations until the closing of the monastery in 2019. Inspired by the Sisters, Epiphany traditions were also celebrated in the school for many years.

Visitation’s yearbook, The Record, reveals that students in the 1930s through 1980s took part in Epiphany celebrations. For many years, a special Mass and breakfast were the Visitation Epiphany customs. The senior class member who found a bean baked into a special tea cake was crowned Epiphany Queen, also known as the Bean Queen. This crowning entitled the Queen to issue a decree; often an evening with no homework was proclaimed for all students. Another Epiphany school tradition was the junior class adaptation and performance of “The Journey of the Three Kings,” by French playwright Henri Ghéon. The Epiphany Bean Queen and cake celebrations became a Big Sister - Little Sister, 12th and 9th grade, tradition through the 1980s.

Epiphany traditions live on at the Visitation Monastery in Minneapolis. This year, Sister Brenda Lisenby  was crowned Bean Queen. Her new status allows Sister Brenda the honors of planning the Sisters’ summer party!

Let us be rich in love and delight in daily joys as we carry the spirit of the Epiphany throughout the new year.