Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh

[James_S_Saint]

What is the Catholic understanding of why Jesus was given specifically these three gifts?

Long ago, I was asked if the world actually had any real hope. I found myself immediately replying that if it did, its highest hope was in the hands of the Catholic.

One of the many reasons for holding such a vision involves the proper understanding of those specific three gifts. If properly understood and used, all of Jesus’ promises come true and human life is eternal.

But having watched over the years, I find considerable doubt that real understanding is a significant part of Catholicism. I have said many times that if Jesus had been more clearly understood by his successors, Catholicism would, as of long ago, become the only religion throughout the world and Science would have been embraced as a Catholic method of empirical evidencing and discovery perhaps 1000 years before it was forced to become its own independent religion.

Even though I can see that those three gifts were at least partially understood at various times in Catholic history, I have never forgotten as to how to use them to dismiss truly every form of evil throughout humanity. This leaves me to either believe that the Catholic has no desire to save humanity or it simply fails to understand Jesus’ gifts.

So does the Catholic actually understand those three gifts? What understanding do you have?

 

[Cluny]

The Gifts of the Magi are still treasured in a monastery on the Holy Mountain–Philotheou, I think, but I may be mistaken.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I have seen, but don’t have a source at hand, that

GOLD - because He is King

FRANINCENSE - because He is Priest

MYRRH - for His burial

 

[James_S_Saint]

The Gifts of the Magi are still treasured in a monastery on the Holy Mountain–Philotheou, I think, but I may be mistaken.

So they just tucked them up on a mountain somewhere???

Doesn’t the Bible have a story concerning those who merely put their wealth away for safe keeping with a bit of a negative connotation for doing so?

 

[James_S_Saint]

I have seen, but don’t have a source at hand, that

GOLD - because He is King

FRANINCENSE - because He is Priest

MYRRH - for His burial

Oooo… thank you for the correction in my corrupted memory for spelling “Myrrh” (owell, aging fast).

But this doesn’t imply any use of the gifts, but rather merely signatories.

 

[Rolltide]

All three gifts foreshadow the death of Jesus, as all are items that would have been needed for a Jewish burial. The gold would be needed for the tomb and burial cloth, and the frankincense and myrrh were needed to prepare the body.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I heard someplace that the gifts were used to finance the trip to Egypt. I think it was just someone’s idea. I have never seen any proof of that. But it makes a good story.

 

[James_S_Saint]

So I take it that the CC teaches absolutely nothing of the use of these things… hmm.

 

[Nullasalus]

James, do you have a belief about what they were used for? I admit, I’m having trouble seeing why knowing this detail is such a big or perplexing issue.

 

[NoWings]

All three gifts foreshadow the death of Jesus, as all are items that would have been needed for a Jewish burial. The gold would be needed for the tomb and burial cloth, and the frankincense and myrrh were needed to prepare the body.

Never thought of that. I always thought they pre-figured the Liturgy.

 

[James_S_Saint]

James, do you have a belief about what they were used for? I admit, I’m having trouble seeing why knowing this detail is such a big or perplexing issue.

For the story to be written using those specific 3 items expressed as gifts, the author of the story had to be one of a particular group of people who recognize those items as representative of the the 3 realms of absolute authority over all things. Anyone possessing all 3 is a true god on Earth. Thus the passage itself is a message of and a blessing upon Jesus to that group.

It is very related to current American politics as the American socialists lust after health care control so as to seal, in their minds, the final segment of absolute control making the American monarchy a true god on Earth even above a Pharaoh.

The founders of the US Constitution at least vaguely knew of these but either wanted to ensure that the Constitution itself could not obtain such authority or perhaps just didn’t understand well enough to ensure such authority.

I am aware of 2 seemingly minuscule omissions from the Constitution that led to its demise. One of those relates to that passage. But Socialism is itself an unholy architecture and thus placing such authority in their hands is paramount to establishing a truly eternal Hell on Earth. The other omission would have ensured that the issue was handled properly regardless.

It is also related to “The Cube” and to the Jewish star of David. But true understanding of them is not common among the Abramics and the Aaronics. Maybe that is why they are just tucked up on a mountain somewhere.

 

[James_S_Saint]

I mistakenly posted this in the wrong forum. Perhaps someone in here would have more to say;

What is the Catholic understanding of why Jesus was given specifically these three gifts?

Long ago, I was asked if the world actually had any real hope. I found myself immediately replying that if it did, its highest hope was in the hands of the Catholic.

One of the many reasons for holding such a vision involves the proper understanding of those specific three gifts. If properly understood and used, all of Jesus’ promises come true and human life is eternal.

But having watched over the years, I find considerable doubt that real understanding is a significant part of Catholicism. I have said many times that if Jesus had been more clearly understood by his successors, Catholicism would, as of long ago, become the only religion throughout the world and Science would have been embraced as a Catholic method of empirical evidencing and discovery perhaps 1000 years before it was forced to become its own independent religion.

Even though I can see that those three gifts were at least partially understood at various times in Catholic history, I have never forgotten as to how to use them to dismiss truly every form of evil throughout humanity. This leaves me to either believe that the Catholic has no desire to save humanity or it simply fails to understand Jesus’ gifts.

So does the Catholic actually understand those three gifts? What understanding do you have?

Thanks.

 

[Eucharisted]

But having watched over the years, I find considerable doubt that real understanding is a significant part of Catholicism. I have said many times that if Jesus had been more clearly understood by his successors, Catholicism would, as of long ago, become the only religion throughout the world and Science would have been embraced as a Catholic method of empirical evidencing and discovery perhaps 1000 years before it was forced to become its own independent religion.

Insults will get you nowhere.

 

[James_S_Saint]

Insults will get you nowhere.

Yet honesty gives way to truth.

Consider that it is a greater offense to take offense than to give it. You see what you lust both to and from.

 

[Eucharisted]

Yet honesty gives way to truth.

Consider that it is a greater offense to take offense than to give it. You see what you lust both to and from.

Yet dishonesty is closed to the truth.

It is a greater insult to veil an attack than it is to make an open attack on Catholics.

I know you aren’t honesty, because your own words show it. If you were truly honest, you would not have insulted Catholics’ intelligence. You would have simply asked a question. But your insult has given away your dishonesty, and your dishonesty has given away the truth about your intentions, for evil unwillingly works “for” God.

 

[James_S_Saint]

Yet dishonesty is closed to the truth.

It is a greater insult to veil an attack than it is to make an open attack on Catholics.

I know you aren’t honesty, because your own words show it. If you were truly honest, you would not have insulted Catholics’ intelligence. You would have simply asked a question. But your insult has given away your dishonesty, and your dishonesty has given away the truth about your intentions, for evil unwillingly works “for” God.

Call me a liar if you wish, but do you have nothing concerning the actual question? If not, your hatred is more than revealing of yourself and not you nor I are the subject and topic here.

 

[chaunceygardner]

Regarding the original question:

I could not find anything in the NAB that explained the gifts. The Catholic Encyclopedia mentions the gold, but says that there are several meanings and explanations for the gifts that have been proposed, but doesn’t describe them. Other sources mention the meanings and symbolism that have already been discussed.

The most reasonable and logical explanation is that the Magi offered these as fitting gifts for the future “king of the Jews”.

The author of this Gospel may have had his own reasons for describing these specific gifts, since no one may have really known what gifts were presented by the time this information was recorded, some 70 years later. And then (as heretical as it may seem) there does not appear to be any other evidence for what is described in Matthew regarding the visit of the Magi, the slaughter of the infants or the flight to Egypt. It is only in this one Gospel. So any symbolism in the gifts (and the other parts of his narrative) may be just what the author intended them to be and the reason for their inclusion.