January 13
By Richard Challoner
On our
Saviour being baptized by St. John the Baptist.
Consider first, how St. John the Baptist, being sent as
a forerunner of our Lord, to prepare the people for him, by preaching to them
penance, and a thorough conversion from their sins; when a multitude of
publicans and other sinners resorted to him, and were baptized by him in the
Jordan, confessing their sins, and receiving from him the rules of a new life;
our Lord Jesus also came among them, as if he had been one of their number, and
stood in need of that baptism of penance for the remission of sins; and desired
to be baptized by him. Admire the humility of this Lamb of God, who came to
take away the sins of the world, and yet here associates himself with sinners,
and is willing to pass for one of them. The Baptist was astonished at it and
refused to baptize him, saying, I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou
to me? But Jesus insisted upon his doing it: for so it becometh us, said he, to
fulfill all justice, Matth. iii. l4, 15; that is, to exercise and to
give examples of all virtues; amongst which humility is the foundation, which
sustains all the rest. O give us thy grace, dear Lord, that we also may fulfill
all justice, by the imitation of thy humility.
Consider, how our Lord Jesus having thus humbled himself,
to fulfill all justice, was presently exalted by his heavenly Father; when being
baptized and praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily
shape, as a dove upon him and a voice came from heaven, ‘Thou art my beloved Son,
and in thee lam well pleased, Luke ii. ‘ll, '32. Learn from
hence, my soul, that humility opens heaven, and conducts us to God, and to all
good. But see also, how upon this occasion of the baptism of Christ, the chief mysteries
of religion are displayed: see how the whole blessed Trinity manifests itself;
the Father, by his voice from heaven; the Son, in his human nature, assumed for
us; and the Holy Ghost, by descending in the shape of a dove. See how the
mission and the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ is here solemnly authorized, with
a formal declaration of the dignity of his person, and of his unction and consecration,
by the Spirit of God: see how the Son of God, descending into the waters
sanctifies them, in order to those great effects of regeneration and renovation
of the soul in the laver of baptism: see how he buries, as it were, the old
Adam here under the waters, and brings him forth a new man; opening heaven in
his favour, and imparting to him both his holy Spirit and the title and dignity
of Son of God. O let us venerate these heavenly mysteries! let us here embrace
our humble Saviour, the source of all our good.
Consider 3rdly, how our Lord begun the functions of
his mission, and the preaching of his gospel, from this time of his being
baptized, and his being here solemnly recommended to the world, not only by the
repeated testimonies of St. John Baptist, but by the voice of his heavenly
Father, and by the visible descent of the Holy Ghost. But first, for our
instruction, he was pleased, by way of preparation, to withdraw himself from
the conversation of men, into a lonesome wilderness, and there to employ forty
day's in fasting and layer; at the end of which time he suffered three
different assaults of temptation from Satan; and after overcoming this wicked
enemy, was visited and served by angels. Christians, let us learn from this
great example, in all our spiritual undertakings, to seek first the assistance and
blessing of heaven, by retirement, fasting, and prayer; let us learn that these
same are also the best arms against all the temptations of the enemy; that we
are not to expect, how much soever we are retired from the world, to live without
temptations, since Christ himself was tempted, and tempted in the desert; but
that we must, by his example, fight and overcome; and that this is the way to
heavenly comforts here, and to an immortal crown hereafter.
Conclude to keep as close as thou canst to the Lord
Jesus, in every step he takes; and to have thy eyes always upon him, that thou
mayest imitate his virtues in thy life.
OCTAVE DAY
OF THE EPIPHANY
Greater-Double -
Privileged
Octave Day
INTROIT –
Malachias 3: 1; Psalm 71: 12
Ecce advénit Dominátor Dóminus: et regnum in manu ejus
et potéstas et impérium.
Ps. 71. 2. Deus, judícium tuum Regi da: et
justítiam tuam Fílio Regis. V. Glória
Patri.
Behold the Lord the Ruler is come: and the Kingdom is
in His Hand, and power, and dominion. Ps. Give to the
king Thy judgment, O God: and to the king's Son Thy justice. V. Glory
be to the Father.
COLLECT
O God, Whose only-begotten Son appeared in the
substance of our flesh, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be inwardly
reformed by Him, Whom we recognize to have been outwardly like unto ourselves.
Who liveth and reigneth.
EPISTLE -
Isaias 60: 1-6
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy 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 thy 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 strength 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 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 -
Matthew 2: 2
Alleluia, alleluia. V. We
have seen His star in the East, and are come with gifts to adore the Lord.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL - John
1: 29-34
At that time John saw Jesus coming to him, and he
saith: Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who taketh away the sin of the world.
This is He of Whom I said: After me there cometh a man, Who is preferred before
me: because He was before me. And I knew Him not, but that He may be made
manifest in Isræl, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John gave
testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down as a dove from Heaven, and He
remained upon Him. He it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw: and
I gave testimony that this is the Son of God.
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
We bring offerings into Thee, O Lord, because of the
manifestation of Thy new born Son, humbly beseeching thee that as He is the
author of our gifts, so too He mercifully accept them, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Who liveth and reigneth.
PREFACE FOR
THE EPIPHANY
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto
salvation that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto Thee,
O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. For when Thine only-begotten
Son showed Himself in the substance of our mortal nature, He restored us by the
new light of His own immortality. And therefore with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn
to Thy glory, saying without ceasing:
THE SANCTUS
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus, Deus Sábaoth. Pleni
sunt coeli et terra glória tua. Hosánna in excélsis. Benedíctus, qui venit in
nómine Dómini. Hosánna in excélsis.
COMMUNION -
Matthew 2: 2
We have seen His Star in the East, and are come with
gifts to adore the Lord.
POSTCOMMUNION
Guide, we beseech Thee O Lord at all times and in all
places with Thy heavenly light that we may discern with a clear mind the
mystery of which Thou hast willed we should partakers, and receive it with
becoming devotion. Through our Lord.
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