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From the Roman 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 Pope St. Leo the Great
1st for Twelfth-Day.
Dearly beloved brethren, we have but lately celebrated that day whereon the inviolate virginity of Blessed Mary gave to man a Saviour. And now the venerable solemnity of the Epiphany giveth us a continuance of joy. So that by the nearness of these two holy Feasts, the freshness of our gladness and the quickening of our faith hath no time wherein to die away. And truly it concerneth the salvation of all men, that the Mediator between God and men is already made manifest before leaving the humble city of His birth.
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
It is true that the Lord chose the nation of Israel, and in that nation one family, whence to take upon Him that nature which He shareth with all mankind, but, at the same time, He would not that the narrow walls of His Mother’s house should imprison within them all the brightness of His appearing, and, as He was pleased to be born for all, so willed He to be forthwith made manifest to all. Three wise men in the East, therefore, saw a new and brilliant star, which, by excelling all others in brightness and beauty, attracted the eyes and thoughts of all beholders and thereby it became at once evident that some new and great event had befallen.
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
Then He Who had given the sign, gave understanding to those that saw it; and having given to them to understand that He was born, He gave them the grace to seek Him; and, being sought by them, was pleased to be found. The three wise men followed the guiding of the heavenly light, and, with their eyes firmly fixed upon the glory that went before them, were so led by the light of grace as to obtain the knowledge of truth. They, knowing that He was born a King, sought Him in the Royal City; but He Who had taken upon Him the form of a servant, and came not to judge but to be judged, had chosen Bethlehem for His birth, and Jerusalem for His Suffering.
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.
The wise men teach us a great lesson in that they departed into their own country another way. That which they did, being warned of God in a dream, we ought to do. Our country is heaven; and, when we have once known Jesus, we can never get there by returning on the way wherein we walked before we knew Him. We have left our country far, by the way of pride, and disobedience, and worldliness, and forbidden indulgence we must seek that heavenly Fatherland by tears, by subjection, by contempt of the things which are seen, and by curbing the fleshly appetites.
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
Let us then depart into our own country another way. They that have by enjoyment put themselves away from it, must seek it again by sorrow. Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren, it behoveth us to be ever fearful and watch, having continually before the eyes of our heart, on the one hand, the guilt of our doings, and, on the other, the judgment at the latter day. It behoveth us to think how that awful Judge will surely come, Whose judgment is hanging over us, and hath not yet fallen the wrath to come is before sinners, and hath not yet smitten them and the Judge yet tarrieth in order that, when He cometh, there may haply be less to condemn.
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
Let us afflict ourselves for our faults with weeping, and, with the Psalmist, let us come before His Presence with thanksgiving. Let us take heed that we be not fooled by the appearance of earthly happiness, or seduced by the vanity of earthly pleasure. For the Judge is at hand, even He That saith Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep (Luke vi. 25). Hence also Solomon saith Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness (Prov. xiv. 13). And again: I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it? (Eccles. ii. 2). And yet again The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth (vii. 5).
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.