Saint Lucian, Priest and Martyr, January 8

Saint Lucian, Priest and Martyr, January 8
　
This Lucian was born at Samosata in the third century, but is surnamed of Antioch, from the city where he spent most of his life. His Christian parents taught him to love God to such good effect that at their death, in his youth, he distributed his considerable inheritance to the poor, and gave himself to the study of the holy Scriptures under an ascetic of Edessa by the name of Macarius. He also became very learned in the literature of the Gentile world. When a man of mature years, he was ordained priest at Antioch, and was there recognized as one of the foremost Biblical scholars of his age, and made head of the theological school.
His greatest achievement in letters was a revision of the Greek Scriptures. Whether he revised the Septuagint by comparing its different versions, or by a return to the Hebrew original, it is not certain ; but his careful and laborious work was widely esteemed throughout the Church, ad after his death was strongly commended by scholars of the eminence of the holy Doctor Jerome. It is supposed that he was for a space deceived by that great dissembler, Paul of Samosata ; for Bishop Saint Alexander of Alexandria afterwards made the charge that Lucian for some years remained outside the Communion of the Church. If so, he recanted, and was reconciled, because it was as a Catholic (Orthodox) Christian that he was apprehended and for a long time kept in prison. At his trial he made an excellent apology for the Faith, which the historian Eusebius hath preserved. Whereupon he was remanded to prison and given no food for a fortnight. When almost dead from hunger, he was provided with food which had been offered in sacrifice to idols ; which same he refused lest he be a stumbling block to his weaker brethren. He was then tried by other tortures, such as the rack, and a bed of sharp points.

When he was cross-examined, he gave but one reply. If they said : Of what country art thou? Or: What is thy calling? Or to whatsoever they asked, he answered : I am a Christian. And during his long imprisonment, whilst chained to the floor, so that he was obliged to lie prone on his back, he celebrated the divine Mysteries, using his own breast for an altar, and so communicated the faithful present. He consummated his martyrdom at Nicomedia in 312. It is the tradition in Arles that Charlemagne named a church in honour of this Martyr, and brought thither his relicks and there enshrined them.
　

Collect:

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who this day keep the heavenly birthday of blessed Lucian, thy holy priest and Martyr, may by his prayers be established in the love of thy holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Propers of The Feast of Epiphany

THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST
TO THE GENTILES

INTROIT. Ecce Advenit. Mal. 3.Behold, he appeareth, the Lord and Ruler: and in his hand the kingdom, and power, and dominion. Ps. 72. Give the King thy judgements, O God: and thy righteousness unto the King's Son. V. Glory be.

COLLECT.
O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: mercifully grant, that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead. Through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

GRADUAL. Is. 60. All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and incense, and shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. V. Arise and shine, O Jerusalem: for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. St. Matt. 2. We have seen his star in the East, and are come with offerings to worship the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. St. Matthew 2:1-12
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 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 him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw 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.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Propers of 2nd Sunday of Christmas, which also serve for the Vigil of Ep...

MISSAL PROPERS:
THE VIGIL OF THE EPIPHANY
And Second Sunday after Christmas 

INTROIT. Dum medium. Wisdom 18
WHILE all things were in quiet silence, and night was in the midst of her swift course, thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne. Ps 93. The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. V. Glory be.

COLLECT.
ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

FOR EPISTLE. Isaiah 61:1-3
1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

GRADUAL. Ps 45. Thou art fairer than the children of men: full of grace are thy lips. V. My heart is inditing of a good matter, I speak of the things which I have made unto the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. Ps 93. Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. Alleluia

GOSPEL. Saint Matthew 2:19-23
19 WHEN Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

OFFERTORY. Ps 93. God hath made the round world so sure, that it cannot be moved: ever since the world began hath thy seat, O God, been prepared: thou art from everlasting.

The Epiphany, or Manifestation of Christ.

The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, January 6

Adoration of the Magi

From a Sermon by St. Leo the Pope
　
Dearly beloved, rejoice in the Lord ; and again I say, rejoice. Only a few days are past since the Solemnity of Christ’s Nativity, and now the glorious light of Epiphany is breaking upon us. On that day the Virgin brought him forth, and on this he was made known to the world. For the Word-made-Flesh was pleased to reveal himself by degrees to those unto whom he had come. When Jesus was born he was first manifested to the believing, but hidden from his enemies. However, the heavens declared the glory of God and their sound went out into all lands, namely, when the herald-Angels appeared to tell the shepherds the glad tidings of a Saviour’s birth. And now the guiding star leadeth the Wise Men to worship him, that from the rising of the sun, even unto the going down thereof, the birth of the true King may be known abroad ; that through those Wise Men the kingdoms of the East might learn the great truth, and the Roman empire remain no more in darkness.

The very cruelty of Herod, when he strove to put an end to the new-born King whom he feared, was made an unwitting means to further this new dispensation of mercy. For the tyrant was so intent on his horrid crime of slaying the little Child, that he did not perceive how his indiscriminate slaughter of the Innocents would serve to spread wider abroad the story of a new-born Babe whose birth as a great ruler had been announced from heaven. Thus were these glad tidings loudly proclaimed, both by the novelty of their story, and the iniquity of their enemies. Moreover, the Saviour was carried into Egypt. And thereby that nation, so long hardened in idolatry, was (by the mysterious virtue which went forth from Christ, even when his presence was unknown,) prepared for the saving light so soon to dawn on them ; if so be, they might receive the Truth as a wanderer even before they had banished falsehood.

Dearly beloved, we recognize in these Wise Men, who came to worship Christ, the first-fruits of that dispensation to the Gentiles wherein we also are called and enlightened. Let us then keep this Feast with grateful hearts, in thanksgiving for our blessed hope, the dawn of which we do commemorate on this day. From the worship paid to the new-born Christ is to be dated the entry of us Gentiles upon our heirship of God and joint-heirship with Christ. Since that joyful day the Scriptures which testify of Christ have lain open for us as well as for the Jews. Whose blindness rejected that Truth which, since that day, hath shed his bright beams upon all nations. Let us then honour this most sacred day, whereon the Author of our salvation was made manifest. As the Wise Men fell down and worshipped him in the manger, so let us fall down and worship him, enthroned omnipotent in heaven. As they opened their treasures and presented unto him mystic and symbolic gifts, so let us strive to open our hearts to him, and offer him from thence some worthy offering.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

The Wise Men,† beholding the star, said one to another : This is the sign of a mighty King ; forth fare we to seek him: * and let us offer him gifts, gold and incense and myrrh, alleluia.
　

Collect:

O God, whose only-begotten Son hath been manifest in the substance of our flesh : grant, we beseech thee, that, like as we have known him after the fashion of our outward likeness, so we may inwardly be made regenerate in him, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, now and forever. Amen.

Antiphon on the Benedictus:

As on this day † is the Church espoused to her heavenly Bridegroom, forasmuch as in Jordan Christ hath cleansed her iniquities: * therefore do the Wise Men hasten with their offerings to the royal nuptials where the guests are regaled with water made wine, alleluia.

Saint Titus of Crete, Bishop and Confessor, Jan. 4

St. Titus, Bishop and Confessor, January 4

　
Titus was a gentile who became the disciple of the Apostle Paul, and was twice sent on missions to the Church in Corinth. Concerning this holy man, the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians : When I came to Troas to preach Christ’s Gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother ; but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Again, he wrote : When we were come into Macedonia, we were troubled on every side ; nevertheless God, that comforted those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. * Paul, because of his regard for Titus, sent him to Corinth on a mission mainly concerned with the collection of alms from the charity of the faithful for the relief of the poor Hebrew Christians at Jerusalem. This mission Titus discharged with such wisdom and gentleness, that he not only strengthened the Corinthians in the Faith, but also stirred up in them an earnest desire, a mourning, a fervent mind toward Paul the earliest teacher. Many were the other journeys by land and sea which Titus undertook. Filled with boldness and zeal, he went with Paul to the island of Crete. Of this Church of Crete the Apostle himself made him the first Bishop ; and we may not doubt that, as such, he was what Paul bade him be : IN all things a pattern of good works, in doctrine, in uncorruptness, in gravity. * He is said to have sweated mightily to unfurl the banner of the Cross among the Dalmatians. And it is believed that, full of days and good works, upon a 4^th of January, in the ninety-fourth year of his age, he died one of those deaths which are precious in the sight of the Lord; and that he was buried by the Church of which the Apostle had made him the minister. His praises have been mostly written by Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Jerome.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

O holy Priest and Bishop,† thou worker of so many mighty works, and good shepherd to Christ’s flock, * pray for us unto the Lord our God (alleluia).
　

Collect:

O God, who on thy blessed Confessor Saint Titus didst bestow the virtues of thine Apostles: grant, we beseech thee, that by his merits and intercession ; we may so live righteously and soberly in this world, that we may be found worthy to attain unto our country in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Antiphon on the Benedictus:

Well done,† good and faithful servant : thou hast been faithful over a few things, * I will make thee ruler over many things, saith the Lord (alleluia).

Octave Day of the Holy Innocents

Octave Day of the Holy Innocents

Matins Lesson 1 & 2.



 Romans 7

1Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
　
　
Matins Lesson 3.
From a Sermon by St. Augustine the Bishop
Once the Lord was born, mourning beginneth ; not indeed in heaven, but on earth : lamentation amongst mothers; joy amongst angels; migration amongst infants. It is God who is born. For him, Innocents be a fit sacrifice, in that he cometh to condemn the wickedness of the world. Fitly are little lambs offered, in that there shall one day be crucified the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world. But the ewes do complain at the loss of their lambs, dumbly bleating, unable to speak. O mighty martyrdom! O cruel sight! The sword is drawn, yet there is no cause for the same. It is envy alone that demanded this blood, seeing that he who is born doth violence to no one. Nonetheless we do see mothers, like ewes, mourning over their lambs. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. But these lambs be pledges, not entrusted to man, rather created only for God; not come to remain in the sight of mankind, but only to be shewn forth for a brief space in their sight.

Collect:

O God, whose praise the martyred Innocents did this day proclaim, not by 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 Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ


A Homily by St. Ambrose the Bishop
　
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, hi Name was called JESUS : This is the Child of whom it is said ; Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given : or again : Made under the Law to redeem them that were under the Law : or again : To present him to the Lord. (In my Commentary on Isaiah I have already explained what is meant by being presented to the Lord in Jerusalem, and therefore I will not enter into the subject again.) He that is circumcised in heart gaineth the protection of God, as it is written : The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous. Ye will see that as all the ceremonies of the Old Law were types of realities in the New Law, so the circumcision of the body signified the cleansing of the heart from the guilt of sin.

But since the body and mind of man remain yet infected with a proneness to sin, the circumcision of the eighth day is meant to put us in mind of that complete cleansing from sin which we shall have at the resurrection. This is doubtless to be inferred from the words: Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy unto the Lord. That is, these words are literally true only of the delivery of the Blessed Virgin. Verily, he that opened her womb was holy, for he was altogether without spot. And we may gather that the Law hath this meaning because the Angel said almost the same words : That Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Among all them that are born of women the Lord Jesus Christ steed alone in holiness. He alone, because of his immaculate birth, felt no contagion from human corruption ; it came not near him because of his heavenly majesty. Otherwise ( that is, if we are to apply this passage of the Law literally ) we are obliged to say that without exception every male that openeth the womb is holy ; and how then shall we explain that so many were unrighteous? Was Ahab holy? Were thay holy on whom Elijah justly called down fire from heaven? But he to whom the sacred commandment of the Law of Ho9d is mystically directed is the Holy One of Israel. And he alone hath opened the secret womb of his holy virgin - bride the Church, filling her with a sinless fruitfulness whereby to bring forth the People of God.
　

Antiphon on the Magnificat:

God, for his great love… wherewith he loved us, * hath sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, alleluia.
　
　
　

Collect:

Almighty God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Antiphon on the Benedictus:

A great and wondrous mystery… is made known to us this day : in a new manner are natures united, for God is become incarnate * what he was, he still abode ; and what he was not, he took unto himself, suffering in his Person neither confusion nor division.