The Feast of the Epiphany

From Catholicculture.org:

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. "The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power." With these words the Church proclaims that today's feast brings to a perfect fulfillment all the purposes of Advent. Epiphany, therefore, marks the liturgical zenith of the Advent-Christmas season. — Pius Parsch 

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated either on January 6 or, according to the decision of the episcopal conference, on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8. The young Messiah is revealed as the light of the nations. Yet, as the antiphon for the Magnificat at Second Vespers reminds us, three mysteries are encompassed in this solemnity: the adoration of the Christ Child by the Magi, the Baptism of Christ and the wedding feast at Cana. Extra candles and/or lamps may be placed around the sanctuary and in other parts of the church to honor Christ revealed as the Light of the Gentiles (Ceremonial of Bishops). It is customary to replace the images of the shepherds at the crib with the three Magi and their gifts. — Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year, Msgr. Peter J. Elliott, Ignatius Press

Epiphany Readings




First Reading:  Isaiah 60:1-6

1	Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2	For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
3	And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4	Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms.
5	Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6	A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid'ian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD

Psalm:  Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13

1	Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2	May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
7	In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8	May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
10	May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11	May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12	For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13	He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

2	assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3	how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
5	which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6	that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 Gospel:  Matthew 2:1-12

1	Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
2	"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
3	When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4	and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5	They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
6	`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
7	Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;
8	and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
9	When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10	When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
11	and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12	And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Prayer

This prayer was taken from the Mozarabic Breviary.

Thou, O Lord, art the Star of truth, that riseth out of Jacob, and the man that springeth from Israel. In the new Star thou showest thyself as God, and lying in the Crib God and Man, we confess thee to be the one Christ. In thy great mercy grant us the grace of seeing thee, and show unto us the radiant sign of thy light, whereby all the darkness of our sins may be put to flight: that so we who now languish with the desire of seeing thee, may be refreshed with the enjoyment of that blissful vision. Amen.