COMMEMORATION OF THE
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
OCTAVE DAY OF THE
EPIPHANY
Greater-Double White
Vestments
Privileged Octave Day
Commentary from
The Liturgical Year
Very Rev. Abbot Dom Guéranger
The
thoughts of the Church, today, are fixed on the Baptism of our Lord in the
Jordan, which is the second of the three Mysteries of the Epiphany. The
Emmanuel manifested himself to the Magi, after having shown himself to the
Shepherds; but this manifestation was made within the narrow space of a stable
at Bethlehem, and the world knew nothing of it. In the Mystery of the Jordan,
Christ manifested himself with greater publicity. His coming is proclaimed by
the Precursor; the crowd, that is flocking to the river for Baptism, is witness
of what happens; Jesus makes this the beginning of his public life.
INTROIT – Malachias 3: 1; Psalm 71: 2
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.
In the Collect, the
Church prays that her children may have the grace of becoming like to Jesus,
who appeared in the Jordan, filled, indeed, with the Holy Ghost, and the object
of the Heavenly Father's love, but, at the same time, truly Man like us, and
faithful in the fulfillment of all justice.
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.
O Lamb of God! thou
didst enter into the stream to purify it, the Dove came down from heaven, for
thy sweet meekness attracted the Spirit of love; and having sanctified the
Waters, the mystery of thy Baptism was over. But, what tongue can express the
prodigy of mercy effected by it! Men have gone down, after thee, into the
stream made sacred by contact with thee; they return regenerated; they were
wolves, and Baptism has transformed them into lambs. We were defiled by sin, and
were unworthy to stand near thee, the spotless Lamb; but the waters of the holy
Font have been poured upon us, waters of the holy
Font have been poured upon us, and we are made as the sheep of the Canticle,
which come up from the washing fruitful, and none is barren among them; or, as
doves upon the brooks of water, white and spotless as though they had been
washed with milk, sitting near the plentiful streams! Preserve us, O Jesus, in
this white robe which thou hast put upon us. If, alas I we have tarnished its
purity, cleanse us by that second Baptism, the Baptism of Penance. Permit us,
too, dear Lord, to intercede for those countries to whom thy Gospel has not yet
been preached; let this river of peace, the waters of Baptism, flow out upon
them, and inundate the whole earth. We beseech thee, by the glory of thy
manifestation at thy Baptism, forget the crimes of men, which have hitherto
caused the Gospel to be kept from those unhappy countries. Thy heavenly Father
bids every creature hear thee; speak, dear Jesus! to every creature.
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.
In the Secret, the
Church once more proclaims the divine Manifestation, and begs that the Lamb,
who, by his Sacrifice, has enabled us to offer God an acceptable oblation, may
graciously receive it at our hands.
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.
While giving thanks
for the heavenly nourishment just received, the holy Church prays for the
unceasing help of that divine Light, which has appeared to her, and which will
enable her to contemplate the purity of the Lamb, and to love him as he
deserves.
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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