INTROIT
Malachias 3:1
Behold the Lord the Ruler is come: and the Kingdom is in His
Hand, and power, and dominion. -- (Ps.71. 2). Give to the king
Thy judgment, O God: and to the king's Son Thy justice. V.: Glory be to
the Father . . . -- Behold . . .
COLLECT
- O God, who on this day, didst manifest
Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles by the guidance of a star:
graciously grant, that we, who know Thee now by faith, may be led on
even to contemplate the beauty of Thy Majesty. Through the same Jesus
Christ, . . .
EPISTLE
Isaias 60: 1-6
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for they light is come, and the
glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness shall cover
the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee,
and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall walk in
thy light, and kings in the brightness of they rising. Lift up thy eyes
round about and see: all these are gathered together: they are come to
thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy daughters shall rise up at
thy side. Then shalt Thou see and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and
be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee,
the strenth of the Gentiles shall come to thee. The multitude of camels
shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba
shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and showing forth their
praise to the Lord.
GRADUAL
Isaias 60: 6, 1
All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and
showing forth praise to the Lord. V.: Arise and be enlightened, O
Jerusalem: for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Alleluia, alleluia. V.: We have seen His star in the East, and are
come with gifts to adore the Lord. Alleluia
GOSPEL
Matthew 2: 1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda in
the days of king Herod, behold there came wise men from the East to
Jerusalem, saying: Where is He that is born king of the Jews? For we
have seen His star in the East, and are come to adore Him. And king
Herod hearing this was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And
assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he inquired of them were Christ should be born. But they said to him: In
Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the Prophet. And thou
Bethlehem, the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda:
for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people
Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently
of them the time of the star which appeared to them: and sending them
into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and
when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come and
adore Him. Who having heard the king went their way. And behold the
star, which they had seen in the East, went before them until it came
and stood over where the Child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the
Child with Mary His Mother, (here genuflect) and falling down
they adored Him. And opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts,
gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep
that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into
their country.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 71: 10, 11
The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of
the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts: and all kings of the earth
shall adore Him: all nations shall serve Him.
SECRET
- Look graciously, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
upon the offering of Thy Church, in which gold, frankincense, and myrrh
are no longer offered: but He, who who by these same gifts was
signified, is sacrificed and received, even Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our
Lord, who, with Thee
PREFACE
(Preface of the Epiphany) - It it truly meet and
just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in
all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty,
everlasting God; for when Thine only-begotten Son was manifested in the
substance of our mortal flesh, with the new light of His own Immortality
He restored us. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Throne
and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing
the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
Special Form of Communicantes -
Communicating, and keeping this most holy day on which Thine
only-begotten Son, who is coeternal with Thee in Thy glory, showed
Himself in true flesh and with a visible body like unto us; and also
reverencing the memory first of the same glorious Mary, ever Virgin,
Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also . . .
COMMUNION Matthew 2:2
We have seen His star in the East, and are come with gifts to adore the
Lord.
POST COMMUNION
- Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that
we may attain by the understanding of a purified mind unto that which we
celebrate with solemn office. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .