Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
The term “epiphany”, which means manifestation, designates the occasion on which Jesus manifested His divinity to the Magi Kings from the East, and was adored by them.
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears His glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13. (R. cf. 11)
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore You.
O God, with Your judgment endow the king,
and with Your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern Your people with justice
and Your afflicted ones with judgment. R.
Justice shall flower in His days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May He rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth. R.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay Him homage,
all nations shall serve Him. R.
For He shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor He shall save. R.
Second Reading – Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel – Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may go and do Him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did Him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
Featured Saints
St. Raymond of Penyafort, priest. Born in 1175 in Catalonia, Spain. He was a professor of canon law by the age of 20 and was renowned for his brilliance. Later, at the age of 47 he renounced all worldly honours and entered the Dominican Order, of which he became the third Superior General.
St. Cyrus, bishop (†714). Monk of Paphlagonia (northern Turkey), elected Patriarch of Constantinople. Expelled from his See, he died in exile.
St. Canute Lavard, bishop (†1137). Duke of Schleswig in Denmark, he prudently and kindly governed the principality and encouraged public piety. He was assassinated by enemies who were envious of his authority.
St. Lucian, priest and martyr (†312). He applied himself to the study of Scripture and founded the Biblical School of Antioch. He courageously gave his life as a witness to the true Faith during the persecution of Maximinus Daia.
St. Joseph Tuan Van Tran, martyr (†1862). Father of a family; beheaded in Vietnam for refusing to trample a crucifix.
Blessed Matteo Guimerà, bishop (†1451). From the Order of Friars Minor, he was deeply devoted to the adoration and exaltation of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, in Agrigento, Italy.
Blessed Ambrose Fernandez, martyr (†1620). He was admitted into the Company of Jesus in Japan and, after suffering many privations, he died for Christ in prison.
Blessed Marie Thérèse Haze, virgin (†1876). Foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross in Liège, Belgium. She died at 99 years of age.
Epiphany takes precedence over the Memorial in Canada of: St. André Bessette, religious (†1937). Member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, he served as porter at Notre-Dame-des Neiges College in Montreal, Canada. Through his initiative, a world-famous shrine dedicated to St. Joseph was built on an elevation across from the school. (Celebrated January 6 in the General Calendar.)
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