Important Dates in the Lives of Jesus and Mary 

Herod's death much later than can be accounted for by the historical evidence (see chapters 12 and 13). And, 

for much the same reasons, the year 

A.D.

 3 is also too late to be the year of Christ's Birth. 

The Christmas Star 

     Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from 

the East came to Jerusalem, saying, `Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his 

star in the East, and have come to worship him.'   (Mt 2:1 2). 

    In attempting to determine the year of Christ's Birth, many scholars have examined astronomical evidence 

in search of the Christmas Star. Various natural phenomena have been considered as possible explanations for 

the star, including comets, supernovae, and the conjunction of two planets.

183

    Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich gives a detailed description of the Christmas Star. She describes the star 

as having a tail:   always following the star, whose long tail reaches down to earth. 

184

     The star which led them was really like a round ball with light streaming out of it as from a mouth. It 

always seemed to me as if this ball, which was as it were swinging on a shaft of light, was guided by the hand 

of a supernatural being. In the daytime I saw a light brighter than daylight going before them. 

185

    She repeatedly describes the Christmas Star as one would describe a comet. These descriptions rule out the 

idea that the Christmas Star could have been a conjunction of planets or a supernova. Comets have long tails, 

but supernovae and planets do not. However, there is more to the Christmas Star than can be attributed to any 

mere comet. 

Natural, Yet Supernatural 

      and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place 

where the child was.  (Mt 2:9). 

    Sacred Scripture clearly describes a supernatural aspect to the Christmas Star. Comets, stars, supernovae, 

and the conjunction of planets do not both move across the sky and then stop above one small place on earth. 

If the event was merely a natural phenomenon, the wise men would not have been able to find the exact 

location of the Christ Child, in a cave on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Thus, if the Christmas Star was a comet, 

it was not merely a comet. It was guided by the hand of God, appearing at a time chosen by God, and more. 

Though a comet appeared in the heavens as a sign of the Birth of Christ, there was a supernatural light which 

also appeared and which guided the three wise men (the Magi). 

    Blessed Anne Catherine testifies to this supernatural aspect of the Christmas Star.  The star which went 

before them was not the comet, but a shining brilliance borne by an angel. By day they followed the angel. 

186

It is possible for a comet to be bright enough, and close enough to the earth, so that it would be visible even in 

the daytime.

187

 But this would not provide enough information for the Magi to navigate to a precise location 

within Israel and within the area of Bethlehem. So many miracles happened during the Ministry of Jesus 

Christ, is it so hard to believe that the Christmas Star could have a miraculous aspect? The three kings were 

able to find the exact place of the Birth of Jesus Christ by this miraculous sign. 

      the kings saw the star appear bright and clear above the hill where the Cave of the Nativity was, the light 

that streamed from it descending in a vertical line on to the hill. The star seemed to grow larger as it drew near 

until it became a body of light which looked to me as big as a sheet. I saw them at first gazing at it in great 

astonishment. 

188

    The Christmas star was also miraculous in that it grew brighter or dimmer, not by nature, but by the hand of 

God.  I did not see the star always shining brightly before them; sometimes it was quite dim. It seemed to 

shine more brightly in places where good people lived . 

189

 The Christmas Star brightened in areas where the 

people were more devout and holy, but dimmed in places where the people were less devoted to God. When 

they arrived in the city of Jerusalem, the star was very dim. And when they went to see Herod, the Christmas 

Star had vanished from their sight.

190

 After hearing what the three wise men had to say, Herod himself 

searched the night sky to see the Star, but could not find it. 

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