Christmas Miracles – The Story of The Three Kings, Pt. I

This is a look at a famous text written in Latin sometime between 1364-1375 A.D.

The first published copies were made in Cologne, Germany in the year 1477. For centuries it lay neglected and forgotten as science became more highly thought of than miracles from God or history. Sources for validating ancient history became more vague as to how to analyze truth. Then in the 19-20th Centuries corroboration came from Social Historians. They were finding embroidered tapestries recording historical events like the Bayeaux Tapestry which recorded in pictorial form action events like the Norman Invasion into England by William the Conquer in 1100 A.D. William was the rightful blood heir to the English throne from Northern France.  The English lords were against William for the most part and said basically that they would not accept him.  Thus, he invaded with his army crossing the English Channel in ships.

The story of The Three Kings has a history of handing down through many centuries the events leading up to their arrival in Bethlehem in Judea on the date now known as The Epiphany on January 6th.  This is 12 days after the birth of Our Lord, and correlates to the 12 Days of Christmas ending with the arrival of The Three Kings to the manger. This is where Mary and the Christ child welcomed their arrival and is thus known to tradition as The Epiphany. The word means “a great miracle, a profound realization,” etc. This is God speaking to humanity it seems to me “look, listen to the story, and believe.” Further, it means get down on your knees and worship the Son of God, Jesus who has come to save the world. The Kings were all dressed in their finest attire before presenting themselves to the Christ, the Son of God. This is just an example of the many lessons taught by this story of The Three Kings. The 12 Days of peace and joy have for two thousand years culminated with the Three Kings arriving at the same time, to pay honor and to worship Our Lord at His birth as the new King, the Christ, the Son of God.

This account of The Three Kings was compiled by John of Hildesheim and published almost a century later in 1477 in Cologne, Germany. John of Hildesheim was a friar of the Carmelite Order with a learned, cosmopolitan background that undoubtedly contributed to the richness of the story, and its intent to tell the facts recorded in various countries concerning the records of the event. This was done at the request of the Bishop of Munster, Germany, Florenz of Wevelkoven.

The book tells the ancient story – the known history of The Three Kings. Sometime before 1955 The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art obtained a rare copy of the 1477 A.D. book and published a limited number of copies in 1955. Then in 1997 Dennis L. McCoy received a rare copy of The Metropolitan printing and decided to print the book with the help of Margaret B. Freeman and published a limited number in 1997 by The Neumann Press.

The book uses original woodcut pictures which are dated around the time of the Middle Ages. Woodcut pictures are considered primary evidence records. The world of Christendom was filled with people that were deeply religious, and would not take the painstaking time to carve details of an event that they did not believe were true and contained truth that they had been brought up on. They were also more devout in that they would receive Confession and Holy Eucharist regularly and thus would rarely if ever be part of fraud. Also, the local priest knew each parishioner and baptized each new baby as soon as they were born.

These historical woodcut pictures roughly depict aspects of the Three Kings as the events are unfolding. Social Historians, of which my background encompasses, consider tapestries, woodcut pictures, paintings of events, diary and written accounts as primary evidence records. Catholics would report to their priest or bishop factually what they saw or hand down stories in the family. The priest or clergy would record these reports and send them at times to the Vatican.

What follows is a sequence of events as told by John of Hildesheim-

1. The Prophecy of Balaam –

Balaam was a priest of Madian. His prophecy states, “A star shall spring out of Jacob and a man shall rise upon Israel and shall be Lord of all people.” After this, great lords and people of India wanted to see this star.

2. An Angel appears to nearby shepherds in a field near Bethlehem speaking to the shepherds, “Be not afraid, for I tell you a great joy that shall be to all people for this day is born to us Our Lord Jesus Christ in the city of David. And this shall be to you a token: ye shall find a young child wrapped in cloths and put in a manger.”
Suddenly there came a great multitude of angels of Heaven praising God and saying “Joy be to God on high and peace on Earth to men of good will.”

And this place of the shepherds was the same place that King David took care of his sheep as a young child.

3. The Hill of Vaus in India – location of the priest of Balaam:

At the exact time of the birth of the Christ child by the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Star of Bethlehem appeared to arise in the manner of a sun brightly shining. It ascended above the Hill of Vaus and all day it stirred not. And the Star had in it the form and likeness of a young child and above him a sign of the Cross and a voice was heard in the star saying, “Unto us is born this day the King and Lord that people have long sought. Go then and seek Him and do Him worship.”

4. The Three Kings, each in his own land, see the Star at the same hour. They also have their own calling to come and worship the King of Kings born this night.

Here it is noted that only pagans and Jews later would call the Three Kings “magi” and “wise men” which means magician and astronomers. The first out of ignorance, the second out of envy and falseness to insult God’s Son and the Three Kings. The Kings did have astronomers in their service but they advised the Kings.

There were 3 Indies which these Kings resided and none knew each other.

*   In the first India – was the land of Nubia and Arabia which reigned King Melchior. In this land gold is red and is the finest in all the world.

*    In the second India – was the kingdom of Godolia and Saba in which King Balthasar ruled over. It was known for an abundance of the Incense of Frankincense and more than any other place on Earth.

*    In the third India – was the kingdom of Tharsis where King Gaspar resided. The incense of Myrrh also grew more plentiful than any other place in the world.

It is to be understood that all three of these offerings were regularly offered to God in honor and mercy of God.  And it is to be so because their gifts were offered to God did these lands have the richest deposits of quality and of abundance of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

*  The Star of Bethlehem went before each of the Kings, shining brightly and giving light to each one of them all the way toward Judea.  As it is written in the Holy Bible there was peace in all the world at this time in history.  The Star seemed to all, that night was day due to it’s brightness.  And the land seemed even and plain, a fair journey no matter how rough the terrain.

* Each King and his caravan of servants never took harbor by the way, nor rested themselves night or day, nor did they eat or drink until they came into Bethlehem.

And each of the Kings came out of their lands into Jerusalem on the 12th day after Christ was born at the uprising of the sun.  The story from the Old Testament of Habakkuk the Prophet who brought food to Daniel in the lions den from out of Judea to Babylon, all in a moment, is believed to be a miracle of God’s work. The only modern day explanation that comes close is Quantum physics theory of “folding time.”  This is a journey of 100 days coming and going and yet is another example of how God’s miracles manifested in the story of the Three Kings. But instead God took 13 days because He wanted to make the birth of Christ and the travels of the Three Kings known to all the world through witness accounts to their travels and as a blessing to the people they passed by.

*  The Three Kings meet outside of Jerusalem where the 3 roads come together. Suddenly, before this coming together, a dark cloud descended and they could not see the Star of Bethlehem so each stopped and waited until it cleared.  The story continues that when the cloud disappeared they all three came together beside the hill of Calvary.  Not one of them ever saw the other, nor knew of his coming.  Yet they met with gladness and reverence.  And even though they spoke a different language all spoke one manner of speech.

So they rode forth together into Jerusalem at the uprising of the sun.

*  Then the Three Kings meet with Herod, leave and the Star of Bethlehem reappears, and they travel just 2 more miles to Bethlehem.

*   They next meet the shepherds on the way and spoke with them.  They told the Three Kings everything that had happened to them and what the angel said to them.

*   The Three Kings settle their caravans outside of Bethlehem.  They prepared by changing their clothing into new and worshipful clothing – as kings should be arrayed.  This is an example of why all Catholics should wear their best and modest clothing to meet Christ in His Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass.

To be continued and concluded tomorrow.

 


References: The Story of The Three Kings by John of Hildesheim, 1477 A.D., updated in 1997 by Neumann Press; the website of the Cologne Cathedral, www.colognecathedral.net/cologne-cathedral-treasurey.html

 

About the Author:

Mrs. Teresa Farris-Dacar has an M.A. in History, M.Ed. Clinical Counseling, M.Ed. Curriculum Design, B.A. Humanities, a major in Journalism, and has published the books listed below. They are available from the author by e-mailing her at ForGodandKing@att.net or placing a special order at Barnes & Noble or Books A Million. All books published by Ingram Publishing Company.

From England – To Barbados – To Carolina;1670-1700: The Founding of Charles Towne;
For God and King [a Christian historical novel];
Heaven Bound by Wearing The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel;

3 books translated from French into English for the first time:

  • The Life of Mother Anne-Seraphine Boulier (written in 1683),
  • Records of the Monastery of Dijon,1611-1789,
  • Biography of Madame Acarie, 1566-1618.
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