The Three Kings

(excerpt from the Visions of Bl Anne Catherine Emmerich)

It was a journey of about 60 days, each day 12 hours long; but they accomplished it in 33 days, on account of the great speed of their camels, and because they often travelled day and night...The caravan filled the whole of the little valley...two youths of Mensor (Melchior)'s train went in at the door, laid down strips of carpet all the way up to the Crib...I saw the cave filled with supernatural light...At Mensor (Melchior)'s entrance, Mary rose to a sitting posture, drew her veil around her, and took the Child, which she enveloped in its folds, upon her lap... The Infant folded Its little hands upon Its breast as if in prayer. It was shining with light, was very gracious, and at times extended Its little hands, as if grasping something. Mensor (Melchior) fell on his knees before Mary, bowed his head, crossed his hands on his breast, and offered the gifts with some reverent words. Then he took from the bag at his girdle a handful of little metal bars...shone like gold. He laid them humbly on Mary's lap by the Child... Seir (Balthasar) with his four relatives entered and knelt. He carried in his hand a golden censer, in shape like a boat, filled with small, greenish grains like resin...He placed his gift upon the little table and knelt long in adoration. After Seir (Balthasar), came Theokeno (Caspar), the eldest of the Kings. He could not kneel, because he was too old and stout. He stood bowing low and laid upon the table a little golden ship in which was a fine, green herb. It was fresh and living, stood erect like a delicate green bush, and had small white flowers...He remained very long before the Infant Jesus, so long that I felt anxious for the good people, the Kings' followers, who at the entrance were so patiently awaiting their turn to see the Child...With the tenderest tears and most fervent prayers, they (the three Kings) commended to the Child Jesus themselves, their goods, and property, all that they valued on earth. They begged Him to take their hearts, their souls, their actions, their thoughts; they entreated Him to enlighten them, to bestow upon them all the virtues, and to the whole earth to grant peace, happiness, and love. They were glowing with love. No words could depict their ardour and humility, nor the tears of joy that bathed their cheeks and flowed down the beard of the eldest...Joseph and Mary also wept. I never before had seen them so full of joy. The honour paid their Child and Saviour and the recognition of Him by the Kings, of that Child for whom their poverty could afford so poor a couch, of that Child the knowledge of whose high dignity lay hidden in the silent humility of their own hearts—all that comforted them immeasurably.