5 January 2017 - Vigil of the Epiphany (Commemoration of St. Telephorus, P.M.)

Major Vigil of the II Class – White

Nota bene: It is customary to bless Epiphany Water this day for blessing houses tomorrow and in the coming week. It is also customary to bless chalk for the marking of houses on Epiphany. 

INTROIT Wis. 18.14-15.

WHILE all things were in quiet silence, And that night was in the midst of her swift course, thine Almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down out of thy royal throne. Ps. 92. 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.

¶ The Gloria in Excelsis is said.

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.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Telephorus, Pope and Martyr

O ETERNAL Shepherd, let the prayers of Telephorus, thy Pope and martyr, move thee to look with favor upon thy flock and to keep it under thy continual protection. (Through.)

¶ Then follows only the Seasonal Collect of Saint Mary as given after 29 December. No other Seasonal Collects are said.

EPISTLE Gal. 4.1-7

BRETHREN: Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

GRADUAL Ps. 44

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. 92. The Lord is King and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. Alleluia.

+ The Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (2.19-23)

AT that time: when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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: 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.

  The Creed is said, even at other masses when the Vigil is merely commemorated.

OFFERTORY Ps. 92.1-2.

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

SECRET

GRANT, we beseech thee, almighty God: that these gifts which we offer in the sight of thy divine majesty may obtain for us grace to serve thee in this life with all godliness, and bring us in the end to everlasting felicity. Through.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Telephorus

WE have offered our gifts to thee, O Lord. Let thy light graciously shine upon thy Church so that this flock may everywhere prosper, and its pastors, under thy guidance, may be truly pleas-ing unto thee. (Through.)

¶ This is followed by the Secret for St. Mary as given in the Seasonal Prayers after 29 December.

PREFACE: Of the Nativity.

COMMUNION Matt. 2.20.

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.

POSTCOMMUNION

GRANT, O Lord, that by the operation of these thy mysteries, we may be cleansed from all our sins, and obtain that which we have asked according to thy will. Through.

COMMEMORATION: Of St. Telephorus

O LORD, govern thy Church, which thou hast been pleased to nourish with thine Heavenly Food. Guide her by thy powerful direction so that she may enjoy greater freedom and remain un-shaken in the fullness of faith. (Through.)

¶ This is followed by the Post-communion for St. Mary as given in the Seasonal Prayers after 29 December.