Introduction

The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord joyfully commemorates Jesus’ revelation of his divine glory to Peter, James, and John. The Transfiguration is a pivotal moment in gospel history because it not only revealed Jesus’ divine glory, it also demonstrated the continuity between the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah) with the message of the Gospel.

Described explicitly in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36), this event came to be called The Transfiguration based on the gospel statement that Jesus “was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:2).

Celebrating The Transfiguration with its own feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457. In 2002, Pope John Paul II selected The Transfiguration of the Lord as one of the five Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.

When August 6 falls on a Sunday, The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord supersedes the celebration of the corresponding Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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