The Epiphany of the Lord, January 04, 2026
That as the wise men were rewarded for their determination to find the infant Jesus, we too may find him through the actions of our lives and the prayers that we offer.
- That the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope will leave the Church filled with hope that “does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That “the star shining over the grotto of Bethlehem” will shed its “comforting and encouraging light” on the “hundreds of thousands of people, who, through no fault of their own, sometimes only because of their nationality or ancestry, are destined to die or to suffer progressive deterioration” in the coming year.[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That the bright enduring stars of night will reveal God’s majesty and glory to all people and will outshine the temporary flashes of bombs and missiles that bring nothing but death and destruction. We pray to the Lord.
- That leaders of nations will not be troubled like King Herod, who feared Jesus as a threat to his authority, but will promote religious freedom so that their citizens may joyfully do homage to the Lord as did the wise men in Bethlehem. We pray to the Lord.
- “That a space may be created in our hearts for the Lord, and ‘that we may recognize Him also in those through whom He speaks to us: children, the suffering, the abandoned, those who are excluded and the poor of this world.’”[3] We pray to the Lord.
- That we will “refute … by the witness of our lives” the common tactics that “drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion.”[4] We pray to the Lord.
- That the Russian Orthodox celebration of Christmas on Wednesday will be marked by the welcoming of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the hearts and minds of the leaders and all people of the Russian nation. We pray to the Lord.
- That those fleeing their homelands in response to government oppression and seeking safety in other countries will find welcome with recognition that there is room for them. We pray to the Lord.
- That we will be among those who choose justice despite the cost by placing peace before fear, and service of the poor before self-interest so that hope will sprout making celebration possible even amid suffering.[5] We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are ill or suffering from the loss of loved ones at the Christmas season will join with the wise men and be overjoyed at finding Jesus with them. We pray to the Lord
- That those who have died will be welcomed into the joy of heaven by Mary so that they may do homage to her son in the same way that the wise men were welcomed into the stable at Bethlehem. We pray to the Lord.
Heavenly Father, on this Epiphany Day, may your answer to our prayers enable Jesus to become known in places decimated by war, hatred, poverty, and hunger and in all corners of the world so that hope may shine forth with its promise of a brighter future. We offer these prayers through your Son, our Lord. Amen.
[1] Quote from Spes Non Confundit, Bull of indiction of the ordinary jubilee of the year 2025 by Pope Francis, May 9, 2024.
[2] Quote from homily of Pope Pius XII, December 24, 1942.
[3] From homily of Pope Benedict XVI at Mass of December 24, 2012.
[4] Quotes from message of Pope Leo for World Peace Day, January 1, 2026.
[5] From remarks of Pope Leo at Angelus on Feast of St. Stephen, December 26, 2025.
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