The Feast of the Three Kings

At the Blessed Stephen Bellesini Academy the feast of the 3 kings is a HUGE deal. It is the day in which we give thanks for the gifts that were bestowed upon Jesus at the Nativity by the three kings. In turn it is the day that our students receive gifts from an array of donors, churches, charities, etc... I had heard of the event, but couldn't fathom the impact it has on the lives and attitudes of our students.

It all began today at 3:00pm when all of the students were paraded to our all-purpose room in the trailer adjacent to the school. The students came in grade by grade and were completely quiet, which for them is a feat in itself. They sat around the room in giant circle and, when all were settled, a select group of 7th graders read the story of the three kings journey to see the Child Jesus.

Once they had their afternoon prayer, we made rain with the students as many of my readers might have done on retreats at one point of their lives. If not I'll describe how it goes: our principle stood in the center of the circle and picked a student to begin with. She first points to them and starts rubbing her hands together quickly, as this passes around the room it begins to sound like a light summer drizzle. During the next rotation everyone begins to snap their fingers lightly, and with the acoustics of this room it truly sounded like little rain drops on a tin roof. The next task is that one by one, each student claps, followed by the stomping feet of a late summer thunder storm. It was quite a relaxing sound for the brief moments of which it took place.

Once order was restored class by class the teachers and staff began to present each student with the gifts that were purchased for them. I haven't seen so many different reactions in a long time. There was the joy of a basketball, the ecstatic times when a student gets a hat that they will never take off (see above), and the relief of a good winter coat. Each student received items that they will use on a daily basis, and the occasional treat that will make for some fun nights with friends.

The sheer joy on the faces of these young men, who in some instances have already taken on more responsibility than many college grads I know, is enchanting. This has been a day that I will never forget and one I will forever cherish.

O Lord, only you know what I am. Even though Paul said, "No man knows what he is in himself except through his own spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:11), there is much that my spirit does not know about my true "self." Confessions, 10.5.7