by L'équipe de publication | Jan 8, 2024 | Agenda Biblique
1ère Semaine du
Temps Ordinaire Année B
Psautier I
Bienheureuse ALIX LE CLERC
VERT
Sa famille qui habitait Remiremont dans les Vosges était riche ; Alix était belle, elle aimait la vie, la danse et les danseurs. Et puis, un jour, elle se convertit. Elle avait vingt et un ans. Sous direction de saint Pierre Fourrier, elle se donna à l’éducation des jeunes filles en fondant la congrégation Notre Dame (Chanoinesses de Saint Augustin). Sa vie est faite de simplicité, de prière et de respect de la grâce de Dieu en chaque jeune dont elle recevait la charge éducative.
Antienne d’ouverture : Mt 3, 16-17
Portons notre regard vers l’homme à qui le ciel est donné pour trône; la foule des anges l’adore en chantant d’une seule voix: «Voici Celui dont le pouvoir subsiste pour les siècles ».
Prière d’ouverture
Aux appels de ton peuple en prière, réponds, Seigneur, en ta bonté: Donne à chacun la claire vision de ce qu’il doit faire et la force de l’accomplir. Par Jésus Christ.
1ère lecture :1 S 1, 9-20
En ces jours-là, Anne se leva, après qu’ils eurent mangé et bu à Silo. Le prêtre Éli était assis sur son siège, à l’entrée du sanctuaire du Seigneur. Anne, pleine d’amertume, se mit à prier le Seigneur et pleura abondamment. Elle fit un vœu en disant : « Seigneur de l’univers! Si tu veux bien regarder l’humiliation de ta servante, te souvenir de moi, ne pas m’oublier, et me donner un fils, je le donnerai au Seigneur pour toute sa vie, et le rasoir ne passera pas sur sa tête. » Tandis qu’elle prolongeait sa prière devant le Seigneur, Éli observait sa bouche. Anne parlait dans son cœur: seules ses lèvres remuaient, et l’on n’entendait pas sa voix. Éli pensa qu’elle était ivre et lui dit : « Combien de temps vas-tu rester ivre ? Cuve donc ton vin ! » Anne répondit : « Non, mon seigneur, je ne suis qu’une femme affligée, je n’ai bu ni vin ni boisson forte; j’épanche mon âme devant le Seigneur. Ne prends pas ta servante pour une vaurienne: c’est l’excès de mon chagrin et de mon dépit qui m’a fait prier aussi longtemps. » Éli lui répondit: « Va en paix, et que le Dieu d’Israël t’accorde ce que tu lui as demandé. » Anne dit alors : « Que ta servante trouve grâce devant toi ! » Elle s’en alla, elle se mit à manger, et son visage n’était plus le même. Le lendemain, Elcana et les siens se levèrent de bon matin. Après s’être prosternés devant le Seigneur, ils s’en retournèrent chez eux, à Rama. Elcana s’unit à Anne sa femme, et le Seigneur se souvint d’elle. Anne conçut et, le temps venu, elle enfanta un fils; elle lui donna le nom de Samuel (c’est-à-dire : Dieu exauce) car, disait-elle, « Je l’ai demandé au Seigneur. »
Cantique : 1 S 2, 1, 4-5ab, 6-7, 8abcd
R/ Mon cœur exulte à cause du Seigneur: il donne le salut.
Mon cœur exulte à cause du Seigneur; mon front s’est relevé grâce à mon Dieu! Face à mes ennemis, s’ouvre ma bouche: oui, je me réjouis de ta victoire !
L’arc des forts sera brisé, mais le faible se revêt de vigueur. Les plus comblés s’embauchent pour du pain, et les affamés se reposent.
Le Seigneur fait mourir et vivre; il fait descendre à l’abîme et en ramène. Le Seigneur rend pauvre et riche; il abaisse et il élève.
De la poussière il relève le faible, il retire le pauvre de la cendre pour qu’il siège parmi les princes et reçoive un trône de gloire
Acclamation
Alléluia, alléluia! Accueillez la parole de Dieu: pour ce qu’elle est réellement : non pas une parole d’hommes, mais la parole de Dieu. Alléluia. (cf. 1 Th 2, 13)
Évangile : Mc 1, 21-28
Jésus et ses disciples entrèrent à Capharnaüm. Aussitôt, le jour du sabbat, il se rendit à la synagogue, et là, il enseignait. On était frappé par son enseignement, car il enseignait en homme qui a autorité, et non pas comme les scribes. Or, il y avait dans leur synagogue un homme tourmenté par un esprit impur, qui se mit à crier : « Que nous veux-tu, Jésus de Nazareth ? Es-tu venu pour nous perdre ? Je sais qui tu es: tu es le Saint de Dieu. » Jésus l’interpella vivement : « Tais-toi! Sors de cet homme. » L’esprit impur le fit entrer en convulsions, puis, poussant un grand cri, sortit de lui. Ils furent tous frappés de stupeur et se demandaient entre eux : « Qu’est-ce que cela veut dire ? Voilà un enseignement nouveau, donné avec autorité! Il commande même aux esprits impurs, et ils lui obéissent. » Sa renommée se répandit aussitôt partout, dans toute la région de la Galilée.
Prière sur les offrandes
Daigne accepter, Seigneur, l’offrande de ton peuple: Qu’elle contribue à le sanctifier et lui obtienne ce qu’il demande avec confiance. Par Jésus.
Antienne de la communion
De toi, Seigneur, jaillit la vie, dans ta lumière, nous voyons la lumière.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant : Toi qui refais nos forces par tes sacrements, donne-nous aussi de pouvoir te servir par une vie qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
Méditation
L’autorité chez Jésus est une force de persuasion intérieure qui oblige à s’exécuter avec empressement et qui met au pas les esprits mauvais. Jesus est, pour ainsi dire, tout bénéfique à l’homme qui veut se rendre libre de toute entrave à son épanouissement, à sa libération et à sa guérison. Il faut pour cela que l’homme consente à lui faire la place de choix qui lui est légitimement due dans son cœur et dans sa vie, la première en l’occurrence.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 8, 2024 | Evangelium
PSAlTER WEEk i ,
SAINT ADRIAN, Abbot
Green
Born in Africa, Adrian became abbot of the monastery at Nerida, near Naples. He died on January 9 in Canterbury, and his tomb soon became famous for the miracles wrought there.
Entrance Antiphon
Upon a lofty throne, I saw a man seated, whom a host of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold him, the name of whose empire is eternal.
Collect
Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : 1 Samuel 1:9-20
After they had eaten in the hall, Hannah rose and took her stand before the Lord, while Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. In the bitterness of her soul she prayed to the Lord with many tears and made a vow, saying, ‘O Lord of Hosts! If you will take notice of the distress of your servant, and bear me in mind and not forget your servant and give her a man-child, I will give him to the Lord for the whole of his life and no razor shall ever touch his head.’ While she prayed before the Lord which she did for some time, Eli was watching her mouth, for she was speaking under her breath; her lips were moving but her voice could not be heard. He therefore supposed that she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long are you going to be in this drunken state? Rid yourself of your wine.’ ‘No, my lord,’ Hannah replied ‘I am a woman in great trouble; I have taken neither wine nor strong drink – I was pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; all this time I have been speaking from the depth of my grief and my resentment.’ Then Eli answered her: ‘Go in peace,’ he said ‘and may the God of Israel grant what you have asked of him.’ And she said, ‘May your maidservant find favour in your sight’; and with that the woman went away; she returned to the hall and ate and was dejected no longer. They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord and then set out and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah had intercourse with Hannah his wife and the Lord was mindful of her. She conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel ‘since’ she said ‘I asked the Lord for him.’
Responsorial Psalm : 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8 R/ My heart exults in the Lord.
- My heart exults in the Lord. I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies as I rejoice in your saving help.
- The bows of the mighty are broken, but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread, but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children now but the fruitful wife bears no more.
- It is the Lord who gives life and death, he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches. He brings men low and raises them on high.
- He lifts up the lowly from the dust, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, on them he has set the world.
Gospel Acclamation : Jm1:21
Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. Alleluia!
Gospel : Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority. In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.
Prayer over the Offerings
May your people’s oblation, O Lord, find favour with you, we pray, that it may restore them to holiness and obtain what they devoutly entreat. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 35: 10
With you, O Lord, is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.
Prayer after Communion
Humbly we ask you, almighty God, be graciously pleased to grant that those you renew with your Sacraments may also serve with lives pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus taught with the authority of a master. He did not cite some prophet or teacher to expound his teaching or saying. His was a new teaching, and he was his own authority. He buttressed what he taught with what he did. Curing the mentally ill man in today’s gospel showed that his authority extended over disease. His messianic mission gave equal importance to the wholeness of mind and body as to his teaching.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 7, 2024 | Agenda Biblique
Baptême du Seigneur
Fête
Saint Lucien de Beauvais
Blanc
Originaire d’une famille romaine il s’appelait Lucius qu’il changea en Lucien. Prédicateur itinérant, il parcourt l’Italie. Il fut victime d’une persécution à Parme où il fut emprisonné et s’évade le soir même. Il fut ordonné évêque vers 250. Il sillonna la France et s’installa à Caesaromagus, l’actuel Beauvais`
Antienne d’ouverture : Mt 3, 16-17
Après le baptême du Seigneur, les cieux s’ouvrirent, et l’Esprit descendit sur lui comme une colombe, et la voix du Père tonna : Celui-ci est mon Fils bien-aimé, en qui j’ai pris plaisir.
Prière d’ouverture
Dieu tout-puissant et éternel qui, lorsque le Christ a été baptisé dans le Jourdain et que le Saint-Esprit est descendu sur lui, l’a déclaré solennellement votre Fils bien-aimé, accorde que tes enfants par adoption, nés de nouveau de l’eau et du Saint-Esprit, puissent être toujours bien agréable à vous. Par notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, votre Fils, qui vit et règne avec vous dans l’unité du Saint-Esprit, un seul Dieu, pour les siècles des siècles.
1ère lecture : Isaïe 55, 1-11
Ainsi parle le Seigneur : Vous tous qui avez soif, venez, voici de l’eau ! Même si vous n’avez pas d’argent, venez acheter et consommer, venez acheter du vin et du lait sans argent, sans rien payer. Pourquoi dépenser votre argent pour ce qui ne nourrit pas, vous fatiguer pour ce qui ne rassasie pas ? Écoutez-moi bien, et vous mangerez de bonnes choses, vous vous régalerez de viandes savoureuses ! Prêtez l’oreille ! Venez à moi ! Écoutez, et vous vivrez. Je m’engagerai envers vous par une alliance éternelle : ce sont les bienfaits garantis à David. Lui, j’en ai fait un témoin pour les peuples, pour les peuples, un guide et un chef. Toi, tu appelleras une nation inconnue de toi ; une nation qui ne te connaît pas accourra vers toi, à cause du Seigneur ton Dieu, à cause du Saint d’Israël, car il fait ta splendeur Cherchez le Seigneur tant qu’il se laisse trouver ; invoquez-le tant qu’il est proche. Que le méchant abandonne son chemin, et l’homme perfide, ses pensées ! Qu’il revienne vers le Seigneur qui lui montrera sa miséricorde, vers notre Dieu qui est riche en pardon. Car mes pensées ne sont pas vos pensées, et vos chemins ne sont pas mes chemins,– oracle du Seigneur. Autant le ciel est élevé au-dessus de la terre, autant mes chemins sont élevés au-dessus de vos chemins, et mes pensées, au-dessus de vos pensées. La pluie et la neige qui descendent des cieux n’y retournent pas sans avoir abreuvé la terre, sans l’avoir fécondée et l’avoir fait germer, donnant la semence au semeur et le pain à celui qui doit manger ; ainsi ma parole, qui sort de ma bouche, ne me reviendra pas sans résultat, sans avoir fait ce qui me plaît, sans avoir accompli sa mission.
Cantique : Isaïe 12
R/ Exultant de joie, vous puiserez les eaux aux sources du salut ! (Is 12, 3)
Voici le Dieu qui me sauve : j’ai confiance, je n’ai plus de crainte. Ma force et mon chant, c’est le Seigneur ; il est pour moi le salut.
Rendez grâce au Seigneur, proclamez son nom, annoncez parmi les peuples ses hauts faits! Redites-le : « Sublime est son nom!»
Jouez pour le Seigneur, il montre sa magnificence, et toute la terre le sait. Jubilez, criez de joie, habitants de Sion, car il est grand au milieu de toi, le Saint d’Israël !
Acclamation :
Alléluia, alléluia! Jean vit Jésus venir vers lui et dit : Celui-ci est l’Agneau de Dieu, qui ôte le péché du monde.Alléluia (cf.Jn1, 29).
Évangile : Marc 1, 7-11
Bien-aimés, celui qui croit que Jésus est le Christ, celui-là est né de Dieu ; celui qui aime le Père qui a engendré aime aussi le Fils qui est né de lui. Voici comment nous reconnaissons que nous aimons les enfants de Dieu : lorsque nous aimons Dieu et que nous accomplissons ses commandements Car tel est l’amour de Dieu : garder ses commandements ; et ses commandements ne sont pas un fardeau, puisque tout être qui est né de Dieu est vainqueur du monde. Or la victoire remportée sur le monde, c’est notre foi. Qui donc est vainqueur du monde ? N’est-ce pas celui qui croit que Jésus est le Fils de Dieu ? C’est lui, Jésus Christ, qui est venu par l’eau et par le sang : non pas seulement avec l’eau, mais avec l’eau et avec le sang. Et celui qui rend témoignage, c’est l’Esprit, car l’Esprit est la vérité. En effet, ils sont trois qui rendent témoignage, l’Esprit, l’eau et le sang, et les trois n’en font qu’un. Nous acceptons bien le témoignage des hommes ; or, le témoignage de Dieu a plus de valeur, puisque le témoignage de Dieu, c’est celui qu’il rend à son Fils.
Prière sur les offrandes
Accepte, Seigneur, les offrandes que nous avons apportées pour honorer la révélation de ton Fils bien-aimé, afin que l’oblation de tes fidèles se transforme en sacrifice de celui qui a voulu dans sa compassion laver les péchés du monde. Lui qui vit et règne…
Antienne de la communion : Jn 1, 32, 34
Voici Celui dont Jean a dit : J’ai vu et attesté qu’il est le Fils de Dieu.
Prière après la communion
Nourris de ces dons sacrés, nous implorons humblement ta miséricorde, ô Seigneur, afin que, fidèlement à l’écoute de ton Fils unique, nous soyons tes enfants en nom et en vérité. Par le Christ notre Seigneur.
Méditation
« Laisse-moi faire, c’est ainsi que nous devons accomplir parfaitement ce qui est juste », rétorque Jésus à Jean-Baptiste tout hésitant à le baptiser. Faire ce qui est juste pour le chrétien, c’est faire ce qui est conforme à la volonté de Dieu. Et si le baptême n’avait pour seul but de nous réaligner sur cette volonté souveraine, portons-nous vraiment et suffisamment bien cette attente ? Sommes-nous vraiment devenus des icônes du Christ ?
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 7, 2024 | Evangelium
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
FEAST
PSAlTER PROPER,
SAinT PETER THOMAS (1305-1366)
White
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Mt 3: 16-17
After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
Thus says the Lord: Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David. See, I have made of you a witness to the peoples, a leader and a master of the nations. See, you will summon a nation you never knew, those unknown will come hurrying to you, for the sake of the Lord your God, of the Holy One of Israel who will glorify you. Seek the Lord while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near. Let the wicked man abandon his way, the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him, to our God who is rich in forgiving; for my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts. Yes, as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12
R/ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
- Truly, God is my salvation, I trust, I shall not fear. For the Lord is my strength, my song, he became my saviour. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
- Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name! Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples! Declare the greatness of his name.
- Sing a psalm to the Lord for he has done glorious deeds; make them known to all the earth! People of Zion, sing and shout for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Gospel Acclamation:
cf.Jn1:29
Alleluia, alleluia! John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
In the course of his preaching John the Baptist said: ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the offerings we have brought to honour the revealing of your beloved Son, so that the oblation of your faithful may be transformed into the sacrifice of him who willed in his compassion to wash away the sins of the world. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Communion Antiphon: Jn 1: 32, 34
Behold the One of whom John said:I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord, that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son, we may be your children in name and in truth. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The feast of the baptism of our Lord concludes the Christmas Cycle and is at the same time the first Sunday of Ordinary Time in the liturgical Year B. This Sunday begins a series of Sundays that speak of the early ministry of jesus Christ. Jesus, who had no sin, still received baptism to consecrate himself for his mission on earth. At his baptism, the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father’s voice from heaven accliams him as his beloved Son with whom he is well pleased. This echoes the first reading, xhere some 700 years before Cjrist, Isaiah announced to the people the coming of the chosen one on whom the spirirt of God would rest. Fortified by God’s Spirirt, this servant of God would bring salvation to the nations. This prophecy found fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Son of David, who brings true peace and justice to all men and women of goodwill. As Jesus’ baptism marks the beginning of his divine ministry, our baptism also marks the beginning of a new life of love and service. We pray to the Holy Spirit to fortify our faith to remain faithful to our baptismal promises.
by L'équipe de publication | Jan 6, 2024 | Evangelium
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
PSAlTER PROPER
White
Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Mal 3: 1; 1 Chr 29:12
Behold, the Lord, the Mighty One, has come; and kingship is in his grasp, and power and dominion.
Collect
O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy, that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First Reading : Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, though night still covers the earth and darkness the peoples. Above you the Lord now rises and above you his glory appears. The nations come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness. Lift up your eyes and look around: all are assembling and coming towards you, your sons from far away and your daughters being tenderly carried. At this sight you will grow radiant, your heart throbbing and full; since the riches of the sea will flow to you, the wealth of the nations come to you; camels in throngs will cover you, and dromedaries of Midian and Ephab; everyone in Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing the praise of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71 (72) :1-2.7-8.10-13
R/ All the nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
- O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice, and your poor in tight judgement.
- In his days justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great Sea to earth’s bounds.
- The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts, shall pay him tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba, shall bring him gifts. Before him all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve him.
- For he shall save the people when they cry, and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak, and save the lives of the poor.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6
You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.
Gospel Acclamation : Mt 2:2
Alleluia, alleluia! We saw his star as it rose and have come to do the Lord homage. Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leader who will shepherd my people Israel. ‘Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, Lord, we pray, on these gifts of your Church, in which are offered now not gold or frankincense or myrrh, but he who by them is proclaimed, sacrificed and received, Jesus Christ. Who lives and reigns forever and ever.
Communion Antiphon : Cf. Mt 2: 2
We have seen his star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Go before us with heavenly light, O Lord, always and everywhere, that we may perceive with clear sight and revere with true affection the mystery in which you have willed us to participate. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, meaning, “to shine upon,” “to manifest” or “to make known.” We celebrate the different manifestations of Jesus to the world: the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12, the baptism of Jesus in Mark 1:9-11, and the miracle at Cana in John 2:1-11. Epiphany Day is also known as the Feast of the visit of the Magi. In the book of Numbers, it is foretold that: “A king, like a bright star, will arise in that nation. Like a comet he will come from Israel…” (Num 24:17). Isaiah will insist on the fact that “The nations shall come to your light…all are assembling”. The Magi understood that “His star” (Mat. 2:2) had finally appeared to them, heralding the Birth of Christ the King. While Herod tried to kill Jesus and extinguish the shining star, the wise men instead adored him. The bright light and the star of the newborn king will shine on all nations, and none can extinguish it.
