From the office of Matins in the Roman divine office.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May God the Father Omnipotent, be to us merciful and clement.
R. Amen.
Reading 4
From the Sermons of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
2nd on the Epiphany, 30th on the Season.
Wise men came from the East to worship the Virgin’s Son. This is the event which we this day commemorate, the occasion in honour of which this sermon is preached. On them that day first broke in gladness, which year by year, now cometh round to us for celebration. They were the first-fruits of that Gentile Church whereof we are the in-gathering. To us the voice of Apostles, to them a star, as a voice from heaven, proclaimed the advent of a Saviour; and to us the voice of the Apostolic preachers is also as a voice from heaven, a heaven declaring the glory of God.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. Shine, shine, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come;
* And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
V. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising.
R. And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May Christ to all His people give, for ever in His sight to live.
R. Amen.
Reading 5
Great is the mystery. While He lay in the manger, He drew to Himself wise men from the East; while He was unknown in the stable, He was recognised in the heavens; and, being recognised in the heavens, made Himself known in the stable. So this day is called in the Greek Epiphaneia, which is, being interpreted, Manifestation. Wherein is manifested both the greatness and the lowliness of Him, Whose greatness was attested in the stars of heaven, and Who, being sought on earth, is found so lowly that there is no room for Him in the inn. And yet, though to be found in fashion as a little Child wrapped in swaddling clothes, He is the object of worship to the wise men and of terror to the godless.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. All they from Saba shall come, they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord.
* Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
V. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Arabia and Saba shall offer gifts.
R. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine.
R. Amen.
Reading 6
Now Herod feared when he heard from the wise men of Him Whom they sought, and of Whose birth they knew by the witness of a star. What will be the fearful judgment-seat of Him, Who, even as a Suckling, struck terror into haughty kings? How much wiser is the thought of those kings who seek Christ like the wise men, to worship Him, than of those who seek Him, like Herod, to slay Him! who seek to put Him to that same death, which He came to suffer from His enemies for their own salvation, and which, by His death, He hath trodden down! Kings will do well to fear Him Who now sitteth at the right hand of the Father, and Whom Herod feared when He hung upon His mother’s breast.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, asking and saying: Where is He That is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east;
* And are come to worship the Lord.
V. We have seen His star in the east.
R. And are come to worship the Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. And are come to worship the Lord.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May the Gospel’s holy lection Be our safety and protection.
R. Amen.
Reading 7
From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 2:1-12
When Jesus therefore 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?
Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great
10th on the Gospels.
When Herod knew of the birth of our King, he betook himself to his cunning wiles, and lest he should be deprived of an earthly kingdom he desired the wise men to search diligently for the young Child, and when they had found Him, to bring him word again. He said, that he also might come and worship Him, but, in reality, that, when he had found Him, he might put Him to death. But, behold, of how light weight is the malice of man, when it is tried against the counsel of God. It is written There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against the Lord (Prov. xxi. 30). So the star which the wise men saw in the East, still led them on; they found the newborn King, and presented unto Him gifts; then they were warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod. And as it came to pass that, when Herod sought Jesus, he could not find Him even so is it with hypocrites, who, while they make pretence to seek the Lord to worship Him, find Him not.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. The star which the wise men had seen in the East, went before them, till they came where the young Child was.
* And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
V. And when they were come into the house, they found the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.
R. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. God’s most mighty strength alway be His people’s staff and stay.
R. Amen.
Reading 8
It is as well to know that it is one of the opinions of the Priscillianist heretics that every man is born under the influence of a star; and, to confirm this notion, they bring forward the instance of the star of Bethlehem, which appeared when the Lord was born; and which they call His star, that is, the star ruling over His fate or destiny. But if we consider the words of the Gospel concerning this star, they are It went before, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. Whence we see that it was not the young Child Who followed the star, but the star which followed the young Child, as if to show that the young Child ruled the star, instead of the star ruling Him.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
R. When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
* And when they were come into the house, they found the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him; *
and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
V. The star which the wise men had seen in the East, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.
R. And when they were come into the house, they found the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
V. Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction. May He that is the Angels’ King to that high realm His people bring.
R. Amen.
Reading 9
But I pray that the hearts of the faithful may ever be free from the thought that anything ruleth their destiny. In this world there is but One Who ruleth the destiny of man, even He Who made man; neither was man made for the stars, but the stars for man; and if we say that they rule his destiny, we set them above him for whose service they were made. When Jacob came out of his mother’s womb, and his hand took hold on his elder brother Esau’s heel, he could not have done so unless this his first movement had been behind his brother, and, nevertheless, such was not in after life the position of those two brethren whom their mother brought forth at one birth.
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.
Prayer
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
Let us pray.
O God, Who by the leading of a star didst, as on this day, manifest thine Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead:
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R. Amen.