Epiphany of the Lord

Wednesday 6 January 2010

IN EPIPHANIA DOMINI
The Epiphany of Our Lord
1st Class, White

Oremus:

Deus, qui hodiérna die Unigéntium tuum géntibus stella duce revelásti : concéde propítius; ut, qui iam te ex fide cognóvimus, usque ad contemplándam spéciem tuæ celsitúdinis perducámur. Per eúndem Dóminum.

Let us Pray:

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 even to contemplate the beauty of Thy Majesty. Through the same...

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The word "Epiphany" means "manifestation". The Church in the Mass, commemorates a triple manifestation of Christ: 1) to the Magi, that is, to the Gentiles; 2) in His Baptism, when the Voice from Heaven declared: "This is My Beloved Son"; and 3) in the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana.

The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worth of the heritage of Israel") (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 528).

20 + C + M + B + 10

...consider the old custom of inscribing "C.M.B." and the year in chalk above your door lintel. The "C.M.B." either stands for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) or the Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat ("May Christ bless this dwelling!"). Fr Nicholas described this a few years back at Roman Miscellany.

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Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Collect)
  
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Secret)
• Vultus Christi: Epiphany Blessing
• chantblog: The Epiphany Proclamation
• chantblog: Omnes de Saba (new!)
  
• NLM: The Gospels of Epiphany, part 1, and part 2 (new!)

(video: Introit "Ecce Advenit", Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis, Milan, Italy)

Most Holy Name of Jesus

Sunday 3 January 2010

SANCTISSIMI NOMINIS IESU
Most Holy Name of Jesus
2nd Class, White


Oremus:

Deus, qui unigénitum Fílium tuum constituísti humáni géneris Salvatórem, et Jesum vocári jussísti: concéde propítius; ut, cujus sanctum nomen venerámur in terris, ejus quoque aspéctu perfruámur in cœlis. Per eúmdem Dóminum...

Let us Pray:

O God, who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and didst bid Him be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His Holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven. Through the same...

Link:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Vultus Christi: Dulcis Iesu Memoria
• VC: Iesu Rex Admirabilis
• VC: Et balsamo suavior
• VC: "And in the Mouth a Honey Zest"
• VC: The Name of Jesus Makes a Contemplative Man
• Breviarium Romanum blog: Admirabile nomen Iesu
• Vultus Christi: Dulcis Iesu Memoria (new!)
  
• Athanasius contra Mundum: Feast of the Holy Name (new!)
  

(image: breviary.net)

Octave Day of Christmas

Friday 1 January 2010

OCTAVA NATIVITATIS DOMINI
Octave Day of Christmas
or, the Circumcision of Our Lord
1st Class, White


Oremus:

Deus, qui salútis ætérnæ, beátæ Maríæ virginitáte fœcúnda, humáno géneri præmia præstitísti: tríbue, quæsumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercédere sentiámus, per quam merúimus auctórem vitæ suscípere, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat...

Let us Pray:

O God, who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast bestowed upon mankind the rewards of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of Life, Jesus Christ They Son, our Lord: Who with Thee...

Link:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
• Athanasius contra Mundum: Feast of the Circumcision (new!)
• NLM: Octave Day of the Nativity (new!)
  

(image: breviary.net)

Seventh Day in the Christmas Octave

Thursday 31 December 2009

DE VII DIE INFRA OCTAVAM NATIVITATIS
7th Day in the Octave of Christmas
2nd Class, White

Oremus:

Gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, placæatus inténde: et per beátum Silvéstrum Summum Pontificem perpétua protectióne custódi; quem totíus Ecclésiæ præstitísti esse pastórem. Per Dóminum...

Let us Pray:

Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd, and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercessed of blessed Silvester Thy Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ...

Link:

• St Conleth's Catholic Heritage Association
  

(image: detail of image Constitutum Constantini, courtesy of Wikipedia)

Sixth Day in the Christmas Octave

Wednesday 30 December 2009

DE VI DIE INFRA OCTAVAM NATIVITATIS
6th Day in the Octave of Christmas
2nd class, White

Dom Guéranger notes:

This is the only day within the Christmas Octave which is not a Saint's Feast. During the Octaves of the Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost, the Church is so absorbed in the respective mysteries that she puts off everything that could share her attention; whereas during this of Christmas, there is only one day which does not celebrate the memory of some glorious Saint, and our Infant Jesus is surrounded by a choir of heroes who loved and served him. Thus the Church, or, more correctly, God - for God is the first author of the cycle of the year - shows us how the Incarnate Word, who came to save mankind, desires to give mankind confidence by this his adorable familiarity.

(image: breviary.net)

Fifth Day in the Christmas Octave

Tuesday 29 December 2010

DE V DIE INFRA OCTAVAM NATIVITATIS
5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
2nd Class, White

Oremus:

Deus, pro cujus Ecclésia gloriósus Póntifex Thomas gládiis impiórum occúbuit: præsta, quæsumus; ut omnes, qui ejus implótant auxílium, petitiónis suæ salutárem consequántur efféctum. Per Dóminum...

Let us Pray:

O God, for the sake of whose Church the glorious bishop Thomas fell by the sword of ungodly men: grant, we beseech Thee, that all who implore his aid, may obtain the good fruit of their petition.
Through our Lord...

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From the Baronius Missal:

Saint Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, is the Martyr of the liberties of the Church in the XIIth Century. Henry II, King of England, wished him to sanction customs contrary to the liberties of the Church. St Thomas knew that to make this divine society subservient to the secular power, would be to violate her very constitution, and therefore as Bishop he would willingly suffer death in defence of the Church of Christ. He was slain in his Cathedral by the King's soldiers on December 29th, 1170.

Links:

• Remembering the Martyr, St Thomas Becket (new!)
  
• Sub tuum: St Thomas Becket: Cistercian and Martyr (new!)
• The Anglo-Catholic: St Thomas à Becket (new!)

(image: earliest known portrayal of Thomas Becket's murder in Canterbury Cathedral, courtesy of Wikipedia)

Holy Innocents

Monday 28 December 2009

SS. INNOCENTIA MARTYRUM
Holy Innocents
2nd Class, Red


Oremus.

Deus, cujus hodiérna die præcónium Innocéntes Mártyres non loquéndo, sed moriéndo conféssi sunt : ómnia in nobis vitiórum mala mortífica ; ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra lóquitur, étiam móribus vita fateátur. Per Dóminum.

Let us pray.

O God, whose praise the martyred Innocents did this day proclaim, not be speaking but by dying, do to death in us all the malice of sinfulness, that our lives may also proclaim thy faith, which our tongues profess. Through.

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Holy Innocents, from the Baronius Missal:

It is because Herod believed the words of the Magi and of the high Priests whom he consulted that he sees a rival in the Infant of Bethlehem and with jealousy pursues the Child, born King of the Jews. It is this God-King that the Innocents by dying confess; their passion is the exaltation of Christ.

And a Blogger notes:

Guéranger comments (Vol. 2, Bk. 1, pg. 280) that the Holy Innocents received a Baptism of Blood. This is certainly possible. However, they were all Jewish males, and the common opinion among the Fathers and Doctors of the Church was that circumcision obtained the forgiveness of original sin before the preaching of Christ. (See St. Thomas's article on the effect of circumcision.) If that is correct, then the Holy Innocents were already cleansed from original sin, and would certainly have obtained salvation no matter how they died.

While Tradition does say that the Innocents received a Baptism of Blood, the circumstance of their death did not obtain salvation for them, but added a certain splendor to their heavenly crowns because they were made like Christ (the intended victim) in their deaths.

(image: The Holy Innocents, by Giotto di Bondone)

Sunday within the Octave of Christmas

Sunday 27 December 2009

DOMINICA INFRA OCTAVAM NATIVITATIS
Sunday within the Octave of Christmas
2nd Class, White


Oremus:

Omnipotens sempitérne Deus, dírige actus nostros in beneplácito tuo: ut in nómine dilécti Fílii tui mereámur bonis opéribus abundáre:
Qui tecum vivit...

Let us Pray:

O Almighty and everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure; that in the Name of Thy beloved Son we may deserve to abound in good works:
Who with Thee...

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Commentary on the Collect for Sunday (Fr John Zuhlsdorf, The Wanderer 2005):

In the functionally superior Lewis & Short Dictionary we learn that beneplacitum means "good pleasure, gracious purpose". The preposition in using the ablative case indicates a condition, situation or relation rather than a reference to space where or time when something was occurring. In the Vulgate beneplacitum translates the original Greek eudokia in, e.g., Eph 1:9; 1 Cor 10:5. Other phrases are used for eudokia too (e.g., bona voluntas in Luke 2:14, the famous "peace on earth to men of good will" or "peace on earth good will toward men"). Paul wrote eudokia at the beginning of 2 Thessalonians (1:11-12), rendered as voluntas bonitatis in the Vulgate:

...oramus semper pro vobis ut dignetur vos vocatione sua Deus et impleat omnem voluntatem bonitatis et opus fidei in virtute ut clarificetur nomen Domini nostri Iesu Christi in vobis et vos in illo secundum gratiam Dei nostri et Domini Iesu Christi… we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve (omnem voluntatem bonitatis) and work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (RSV).

We can find connections between 2 Thessalonians and our Collect at several points: mereamur in the Collect with dignetur in Paul (both having to do with meriting or being worth of), beneplacitum with voluntas bonitatis, bona opera with opus fidei (good works flowing from lived faith), nomen Filii with nomen Domini Iesu Christi. Taken in the sense of "gracious purpose" we can make a connection to Paul's vocatio too, our "calling" or the purpose for which God placed us on this earth with a part of His plan to fulfill.

Abundo means, "to overflow with any thing, to have an abundance or superabundance of, to abound in." If we go back to the idea of the preposition in and the ablative indicating place or location in space, (in beneplacito tuo) we have an image of our good works originating in God and, coming from Him, overflowing out from us. Some Protestants are under the false impression that Catholics think we can "earn" our way to heaven by our own good works, as if our good works had their own merit apart from God. Catholics believe, however, that true good works always have their origin in God, but the works are truly our works as well since we cooperate with God in performing them. Therefore, having their origin and purpose in God, they merit the reward of God's promises. Whenever we find a reference to works in these liturgical prayers, do not forget the Catholic understanding of good works.

Links:

• Fr Goffine's The Church's Year
• Gregorian Chant propers
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
  

(image: breviary.net)

St Stephen, Protomartyr

Saturday 26 December 2009

SANCTI STEPHANI, Protomartyris
St Stephen, Deacon & Protomartyr
2nd Class, Red
(2nd Vespers of St. Stephen,
w. commem. of 1st Vespers of Sunday in the Octave)

Oremus.
Concéde, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut nos Unigéniti tui nova per carnem Natívitas líberet; quos sub peccáti jugo vetústa sérvitus tenet. Per eúmdem Dóminum.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the new birth, in the flesh, of thine only-begotten Son, may deliver us whom slavery from of old doth keep under the yoke of sin. Through the same.

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From matins, the Office of Readings for today⁽¹⁾, the feast of St Stephen, the first martyr:

From the Acts of the Apostles:

The members of the Council...became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory, and Jesus standing at the right side of God. "Look!" he said. "I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!"

...Then they all rushed together at him at once, threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in charge of a young man named Saul. They kept on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" He knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!" He said this and died. And Saul approved of his murder.

From a sermon by St Fulgentius of Ruspe:

Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal king; today we celebrate the triumphant death of a soldier.

...The love then that brought Christ down from heaven to earth, lifted Stephen from earth to heaven. The love that showed itself first in the kind, shone forth next in the soldier. And Stephen, so as to deserve to win the crown -- which is what his name means -- had love as his weapon and by it was everywhere victorious. Through love of God he did not yield to the raging of the Jews, and through love of his neighbour he prayed for those who were stoning him...

Trusting in the strength of love he overcame the cruel raging of Saul, and so won for himself as a companion in heaven, the man who had been his persecutor on earth. ...And now Paul rejoices with Stephen, with Stephen he enjoys the brightness of Christ; he exults with Stephen, he reigns with Stephen.

What a really true life must there be now, brethren, where Paul is not put to confusion although he killed Stephen, but where, instead, Stephen rejoices in the fellowship of Paul; for in both of them love itself rejoices. In Stephen, love overcame the ferocity of the Jews, in Paul it covered a multitude of sins, and in both of them love deserved to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Love, therefore, is the origin and source of all good things; it is a most excellent defence, the road that leaves to heaven. Whoever walks in love can neither stray nor be afraid. Love guides, love protects, love leads to the end.

⁽¹⁾ - Divine Office, vol. I, pp. 46* - 50*.

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Link:

• Vultus Christi: "Wreathe the Door of Thy Heart"

Christmas Day

Friday 25 December 2009

IN NATIVITATE DOMINI
The Nativity of Our Lord
1st Class, White

Christmas is the only day of the year which keeps the old custom of celebrating its Feast at midnight. At this hour we call to mind that Mary in her spotless virginity gave to the world its Saviour. In the midst of darkness, the Light was born. Therefore the Church celebrates Christmas on December 25th, the time of the year when the days begin to lengthen. The custom of having three Masses originated in Jerusalem. A Mass was said in Bethlehem at a very early hour in the morning. Later a second Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. About midday a third Mass was celebrated.

-- Baronius 1962 Missal

1) Midnight Mass: "Dominus Dixit"

The Midnight Mass specially recalls the temporal birth of Jesus:

Oremus:

Deus, qui hanc sacratíssimam noctem veri lúminis fecísti illustratióne calréscere: da, quæsumus; ut, cujus lucis mystéria in terra cognóvimus, ejus quoque gáudiis in cœlo perfruámur:

Qui tecum vivit et regnat...

Let us Pray:

O God, Who hast made this most holy night to shine forth with the splendor of the true Light: grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who have known the mysteries of His light on earth, may enjoy also His happiness in heaven.

Who with Thee liveth and...


2) Dawn Mass: "Lux Fulgebit"

The Mass at Dawn especially recalls the spiritual birth of Jesus in our souls, and commemorates the adoration of the shepherds:

Oremus:

Da nobis, quæsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut, qui nova incarnáti Verbi tui luce perfúndimut; hoc in nostro respléndeat ópere, quod per fidem fulget in mente.

Per eúmdem Dóminum...

Let us Pray:

Grant us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we on whom the new light of Thy Incarnate Word is poured, may show forth in our works that brightness, which now doth illuminate our minds by faith.

Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who...


3) Daytime Mass: "Puer Natus Est"

The Third Mass during the Daytime recalls especially the eternal generation of Jesus, and celebrates the dignity of the Son of God:

Oremus:

Concede, quæsumus omnípotens Deus: ut nos Unigéniti tui nova per carne Natívitas líberet: quos sub peccáti jugo vetústa sérvitus tenet.

Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum...

Let us Pray:

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free, who are held by the old bondage under the yoke of sin.

Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God...

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Links:

• Guéranger, L'Année Liturgique, "Noël, Messe de l'Aurore"
• Goffine, The Church's Year, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  
• Gregorian Chant Propers (mp3 and music)
• The New Liturgical Movement (Introit, "Puer natus")
• NLM: Laetabundus (Christmas Sequence) (music, pdf) (new!)
  
• What Does the Prayer Really Say? (First Mass, Missa in nocte)
• Second Mass: What Does the Prayer Really Say? (Second Mass, Missa in Aurora)
  

(image: breviary.net)

notes: Christmastide

Notes for the Liturgy during Christmastide

1. At Christmas each Priest may celebrate three Masses (and retain the three stipends): Mass of the night, Mass at dawn, and Mass of the day. Priests who celebrate three Masses without interruption must follow these guidelines: (i) there is no ablution, even of water, after the first and second Mass; the Priest should purify his fingers in the ablution bowl; at the first two Masses the Chalice is simply recovered with the purificator, pall and veil and left on the corporal; and (ii) at the Offertory, a new Host is brought by the server. The Priest does not wipe the Chalice before he pours the wine and the water.

2. At the second Mass on Christmas Day there is a commemoration of St. Anastasia, even at a sung Mass. At the third Mass there is no Last Gospel; the Last Gospel of the Epiphany formerly said at this point has been suppressed.

3. The faithful who received Communion at Midnight Mass may also receive Communion at another Mass during the day.

4. The Communicantes of Christmas is used from December 25h through to January 1st (Octave Day of the Nativity): at midnight, "noctem sacratissimam"; at the other Masses, "diem sacratissimum".

5. On December 29th, 30th, and 31st, the Proper is taken from the Mass Puer Natus during the Octave of the Nactivity. On January 2nd, the Proper is taken from the Mass of the Octave Day of the Nativity (January 1st). On January 7th to 9th, the Mass is of the Epiphany. On January 12th, the Mass is of the first Sunday of the Epiphany.

6. A Plenary Indulgence may be gained by publicly saying or singing the Te Deum in thanksgiving on December 31st; a Plenary Indulgence may also be gained by publicly saying or singing Veni Creator Spiritus on January 1st.

7. The Gloria is said at every Mass of the seaons, even of the feria, during Christmastide.

8. The Daily Mass for the Dead is prohibited on all ferias of Christmastide and throughout the former Octave of the Epiphany.

(excerpted/adapted from the 2009 Liturgical Ordo, Priestly Fraternity of St Peter)

Christmas Eve

Thursday 24 December 2009

IN VIGILIA NATIVITATIS DOMINI
Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord
1st Class, Violet
(1st Vespers of Christmas)

Oremus:

Deus, qui nos redemptiónis nostræ annua exspectatióne lætíficas: præsta; ut Unigénitum tuum, quem Redemptórem læti suscípimus, veniéntem quoque Júdicem secúri videámus, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum : Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus. Let us Pray:

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly Expectation of the birth of thine only Son Jesus Christ: grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge.

Who liveth and reigneth with thee.

Links:

• Guéranger, L'Année Liturgique, "Noël, Messe de Minuit"
• Goffine, The Church's Year, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
  
• Gregorian Chant Propers (mp3 and music)
• What Does the Prayer Really Say?
  

(image: breviary.net)

January 10th: Dom Gueranger on the Fifth Day of the Epiphany Octave

"Bethlehem is not merely the birthplace of our Redeemer; it is the cradle of the Church................

Extract from Dom Guéranger's prayer for today:

"We, dear Babe of Bethlehem! - we the Gentiles, who, by our regeneration, have become the posterity of these first Christians (the Magi) - we adore thee as they did........Long ages have passed away; but there has been an unbroken procession of people and nations tending towards thee under the guidance of the Star of Faith. We have been made members of thy Church, and we adore thee with the Magi......(But) we are happier than these first born of the Church (in that)we have heard thy sacred words and teachings, we have contemplated thy sufferings and thy Cross, we have been witnesses of thy Resurrection, we have heard the whole universe, from the rising to the setting of the sun, hymning thy blessed and glorious name...................... The Church, the ever-enduring Bethlehem, the House of the Bread of Life, gives thee to us, and we are for ever feasting on thy adorabble beauty. Yea sweet Jesus, we adore thee with the Magi."

Dom Gueranger has not let a day of the Octave pass without paying tribute to Our Lady, both in his own words and by quoting works from the Fathers and Poets of the several Churches. In the next post, to redress the omission so far, of any example, we give today's selection in both English and Latin. It is 'the beautiful Sequence (Flos pudicitiae), which our own dear England used to sing in the Middle-Ages'.

January 9th: Dom Gueranger on the Fourth day of the Epiphany Octave.

I have been called away and therefore only have time for a brief extract from Dom Guéranger's own prayer for today. I dedicate it especially to Fr Mark Kirby in thanksgiving for his daily guidance towards the Light, that is Vultus Christi.

"O dear Jesus! we also are following thee; we are walking in thy light, for thou hast said, in the Prophecy of thy beloved Disciple: 'I am the bright and Morning Star.' (Apoc. 22:16) The meteor that guides the Magi is but thy symbol, O divine Star!..................

"May thy light ever beam upon us! May we like the Magi, be obedient to its guidance, and ready to leave all things in order to follow it! We were sitting in darkness when thou didst call us to thy grace, by making this thy light shine upon us. We were fond of our darkness, and thou gavest us a love for the Light! Dear Jesus! keep up this love within us. Let not sin, which is darkness, ever approach us. Preserve us from the delusion of a false conscience.........May thy Star guide us through life, and bring us to thee, our King, our Peace, our Love!" Amen

January 8th: Dom Gueranger on the third day of the Epiphany Octave

" The great Mystery of the Alliance of the Son of God with the universal Church, and which is represented in the Epiphany by the Magi, was looked forward to by the world in every age previous to the coming of our Emmanuel. The Patiarchs and Prophets had propagated the tradition; and the Gentile world gave frequent proofs that the tradition prevailed even with them."

After the above introduction, Dom Gueranger traces that 'looking forward', from Adam through to Solomon and David, and from them, through the Prophets, to Ezekiel and Isaiah. He then returns to his statement that their expectation is found among the Gentiles.

"The Sibyls kept up the hope in the heart of the people and in Rome itself, we find the Poet Virgil repeating,....the oracles they had pronounced:

'The last age, foretold by the Cumean Sibyl, is at hand: a new and glorious era is coming; a new race is being sent down to earth from heaven. At the birth of this Child, the iron age will cease, and one of gold will rise upon the whole world. No remnants of our crimes will be left, and their removal will free the earth from its never-ending fear.' (Eclog. IV)

Dom Guéranger continues:

"If we are unwilling to accept, as dis St. Augustine and so many other holy Fathers, these Sibylline oracles as the expression of the ancient traditions - we have pagan philosophers and historians, such as Cicero, Tacitus, and Suetonius, testifying, that, in their times, the world was in expectation of a Deliverer; that this Deliverer would come, not only from the East, but from Judea; and that a Kingdom was on the point of being established, which would include the entire world."

There follows another prayer to Jesus, and then a further selection from the several Churches. This includes another Hymn by Prudentius, "the Prince of our Latin Liturgical Poets"; a Sequence taken from the ancient Roman-French Missals, and a Prayer from the Sacramentary of the ancient Gallican Church. Sadly on this post, there is only time and space to reproduce the latter.

"O God, who, in all thy works art rich in mercy! Father of glory! who didst set thy Son as a light to the Gentiles, that he might preach redemption to captives, and give sight to the blind; O thou that art through Christ plenteous in thy mercy! grant us the remission of our sins, and fellowship, through faith, with the Saints. Through the same Christ our Lord &c. Amen."

January 7th: Dom Gueranger on the Second day of the Epiphany Octave

Dom Guéranger identifies the Magi as the heralds of the conversion of all nations; as "Fathers of the Gentiles in the faith of the Redeeemer2 ; and as "Patriarchs of the human race regenerated".

"They arrive at Bethlehem, according to the tradition of the Church, three in number; and this tradition is handed down by St. Leo, by St. Maximus of Turin, by St. Cesarius of Arles, and by the christian paintings in the Catacombs of Rome, which paintings belong to the period of the Persecustions............

"They come to Bethleham, and they are followed by countless generations. In them, the figures (from the Old Testament) become the grand reality...."

Dom Guéranger follows this with a prayer to Jesus and with an exhortation that we should now contemplate a selection of "Hymns and Prayers of the several Churches in praise of the Mysteries of the glorious Epiphany".

"We take the three following solemn prayers from the Gregorian Sacramentary:

The first is as follows:

" O God, the enlightenment of all nations, give thy people to enjoy perpetual peace, and infuse into our hearts that shining light, which thou didst enkindle in the minds of the three Magi."

Dom Gueranger on the Octave of the Epiphany

"The only Octaves during the year, that are superior to this of the Epiphany, are those of Easter and Pentecost. It has a privilege, which the Octave of Christmas does not; for no Feast can be kept during (it), unless it be that of a Patron of first class.....It would even seem, judging from the ancient Sacramentaries, that, anciently, the two days immediately following the Epiphany were Days of obligation, as were (those following) Easter and Whitsuntide. The names of the Stational Churches are given, where the Clergy and Faithful of Rome assembled on these two days.......

"In order that we may the more fully enter into the spirit of the Church, during this glorious Octave, we will contemplate, each day, the Mystery of the Vocation of the Magi............"

Epiphany: Dom Gueranger on First and Second Vespers

First and Second Vespers are almost exactly the same.

"1. ANT. The Lord our Saviour, begotten before the day-star and all ages, appeared to the world on this day.

Psalm 109: Dixit Dominus
Ant.

2. ANT. Thy light is come, O Jerusalem, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall walk in thy light. Alleluia

Psalm 110 Confitebor tibi
Ant.

3. ANT. Opening their treasures, the Magi offered to the Lord gold, frankincens and myrrh. Alleluia

Psalm 111 Beatus Vir
Ant.

4. ANT. Ye seas, and rivers, bless the Lord: ye fountains, sing a hymn to the Lord. Alleluia.

Psalm 112 Laudate pueri
Ant.

5. At First Vespers
ANT. This star shineth as a flame, and pointeth out God, the King of kings: The Magi saw it, and offered gifts to the great King.
Psalm 116 Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
Ant.
5. At Second Vespers
ANT.
Psalm 113 In exitu Israel
Ant.

Capitulum - Surge, illuminare Is. 60
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

"There follows the Hymn. It is the beautiful one composed by Sedulius, of which we sang the opening stanzas in the Lauds of Christmas Day. In the verses selected for the present Feast, the Church celebrates the three Epiphanies: Bethlehem, the Jordan, and Cana, each, in its turn, manifested the glory of Jesus, our great King.

Hymn Crudelis Herodes

V. The kings of Tharsis and the islnds, shall offer presents.
R. The Kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts.

Magnificat Antiphon at First Vespers:
The Magi, seeing the Star, said to each other: This is the sign of the great King: let us go and seek him, and offer him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Alleluia.

Magnificat Antiphon at Second Vespers:
We celebrate a festival adorned by three miracles: this day, a star led the Magi to the manger; this day, water was changed into wine at the marriage-feast; this day, Christ vouchsafed to be baptised by John in the Jordan, for our salvation. Alleluia.

After the Magnificat:

Let us pray
O God, who by the direction of a star, didst this day manifest thy only Son to the Gentiles: merciffully grant that we, who now know thee by faith, may cone at length to seee the glory of the Majesty. Through the same, &c.

"At First Vespers the Church had "opened her chants in honour of the divine Theophany. Tomorrow, the offering of the great Sacrifice, will unite us all in the prayers we present to our King and Saviour.

Let us finish this day in recollection and joy."

Dom Gueranger: Last words before Epiphany

"The heavens have dropped down their Dew, the clouds have rained down the Just One, the earth has yielded its Saviour, THE WORD IS MADE FLESH, the Virgin has brought forth her sweet Fruit - our Emmanuel, that is, God with us. The Sun of Justice now shines upon us; darkness has fled; in heaven there is Glory to God; on earth, there is Peace to men. All these blessings have been brought to us by the humble yet glorious Birth of this Child. Let us adore Him in his Crib; let us love him for all his love of us; and let us prepare the gifts we intend to present to him, with the Magi, on tomorrow's Feast. The joy of the Church is as great as ever; the Angels are adoring in their wondering admiration; all nature thrills with delight:- Unto us is born a little Child!"

January 5th: Dom Gueranger on the Vigil of the Epiphany. Commemoration of St. Telephorus

"This Pontiff began his reign in the year 127; and among his decrees, we find that of his prescribing the holy sacrifice of the Mass to be offered on Christmas Night, in order to honour the hour when our Saviour was born; he also ordered that the Angelic Hymn 'Gloria in excelsis' should be said, on most days at the beginning of Mass. This devotion of the holy Pope towards the great Mystery which we are now celebrating, renders his commemoration at this season of the year doubly dear to us. Telesphorus suffered a glorious martyrdom, as St. Ireneus expresses it, and was crowned with eternal glory in the year 138."