for the High Sabbath of the Epiphany.

*A Holy Day of Obligation*

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be...

Dear Parishioners of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church:-

The following is an extract of the Service of Divine Liturgy and readings for the High Sabbath on Saturday for the benefit of those who, for reasons of distance or ill-health, are unable to attend the Divine Liturgy or be reached by Arian Catholic clergy.

PS Please don’t forget to read the notes at the end of this document.

The High Sabbath, Birth of Christ, Baptism of Christ, the Magi bringing with them Gold (the gift bestowed on Kings), Frankincense (used to worship at the altar of God), and Myrrh (to prepare the body for embalming after death), and the Marriage at Cana.

The Epiphany was celebrated in the early Church before Christmas, it is the anniversary of the Baptism of Christ, the coming of the Magi (the three wise men or Kings; see Matthew 2:1-12) bringing with them gold (the gift bestowed on Kings), frankincense (used to worship at the altar of God), and myrrh (to prepare the body for embalming after death), and also the Jewish rite of Purification and the controversial marriage at Cana (references to which are not found in the earliest manuscripts). The Epiphany is therefore a Holy Day of Obligation in the Church and one of the most important days of the Ecclesiastical year. 

The Epiphany was regarded by the early Church with great importance and was an established feast even in St Clement’s time.

Divine Liturgy:

Colour: White; Year: C1, Arianised: Divine Office & English Missal.

A child is born for us, a son given to us; dominion is laid on his shoulder, and he shall be called Wonderful-Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6). Kingship is his, and government and power (See Mal 3:1; I Chr 19:12).

The Magi saw the star and said to one another: This is the sign of the great King; let us go and seek him; let us offer him gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and praised him.

When Christ was Baptised, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove to rest on him. Then the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with him I am well pleased.

Prayer:

Let us pray: Christ has been born for us: may the love of Christ be a light to the world ... 

Father in heaven,
We are filled with the new light
By the coming of your Word among us.
May the light of faith
Shine in our words and actions.

You revealed Christ as Your Son
By the voice that spoke over the waters of the Jordan.

May all who share in the sonship of Christ
Follow in his path of the service to man,
And reflect the glory of his kingdom
even to the ends of the earth.
Amen.

As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ’s love,
let us acknowledge our failures
and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.

I confess to almighty God, 
that I have sinned through my own fault
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask all the Angels and Saints,
to pray for me to our Father in Heaven.

May the almighty Father have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

The Kyrie
A plea for mercy. It is not said here if it has already been incorporated in the penitential rite.

(V) Father, have mercy upon us.
(R) Father, have mercy upon us.

(V) Christ, have mercy upon us.
(R) Christ, have mercy upon us.

(V) Father, have mercy upon us.
(R) Father, have mercy upon us.

Glory to the Father in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Spiritual Son of the Father,
Lord Archangel, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
hear our prayer.

Glory be to the Father,
with the Son,
through the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.

Hail Mary, 
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary,
Mother of Jesus,
Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen 

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD,
Creator of Heaven and earth,
And of all things visible and invisible.
And in his Spiritual Son, Jesus Christ,
Whom was born of Mary and Joseph,
Was not consubstantial nor co-eternal with God the Father almighty,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried.
On the third day His Spirit was resurrected.
He ascended into Heaven,
And sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty.
Whence he shall come again to judge the living and the dead,
Of whose Kingdom there shall be no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the Spirit,
And life everlasting.
Amen.

Readings for Divine Liturgy

Readings for Divine Liturgy at Dawn and Dusk

First Reading: Isaiah 62:11-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97:1, 6, 11-12
Second Reading: Titus 3:4-7

Gospel Acclamation as below
Gospel: Luke 2:15-20
(V)
(R) 

Readings for Divine Liturgy during the day

First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10, 60:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6,  or  72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6

Third Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6

Alleluia, Alleluia!

As for you, little child, you shall be called
a prophet of God, the Most High.

You shall go ahead of the Lord
to prepare his ways before him.

Alleluia!

First Gospel Reading: John 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

(V) This is the Gospel of the Lord,
(R) Thanks be to God.

Second Gospel Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

(V) This is the Gospel of the Lord,
(R) Thanks be to God.

Almighty Father,

you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.

Lead us to your glory in heaven
by the light of faith.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen.

Yours are the heavens and yours is the earth; the world and its fullness you have founded; justice and judgment are the foundation of your throne.

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.

Almighty Father,

Accept the offerings of your Church,
not Gold, Frankincense and Myrh,
but the sacrifice and food they symbolize:
Jesus Christ.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. 
Amen.

Be conscious, O Christian, of your dignity!
Sermo 1 in Nativitate Domini, 1-3

Beloved brothers and sisters: Unto us is born this day a Saviour. Let us rejoice. It would be unlawful to be sad today, for today is life’s birthday, the birthday of that Life which, for us mortal creatures, takes away the sting of death and brings the bright promise of an eternal hereafter. It would be unlawful for anyone to refuse sharing in our rejoicing. All have an equal part in the great reason why we are joyful, for our Lord, who is the destroyer of sin and death, finding that all are bound under condemnation, is come to make all free.

For when the fullness of time was come, the Son of God took upon himself human nature so that he might reconcile that nature to him who made it; hence the devil, the inventor of death, is met and conquered in that very flesh which had been the field of his victory.

Let us give thanks to God the Father with His Son through the Holy Spirit, who for his great love wherewith he loves us has had mercy on us and has quickened us together with Christ even when we were dead in sins, that in him we might be a new creature and a new handiwork.

Let us, then, put off the old nature with its deeds, and having obtained a share in the sonship of Christ, let us renounce the deeds of the flesh. Be conscious, O Christian, of your dignity! You have been made partaker of the divine nature; do not fall again by a corrupt manner of life into the beggarly elements above which you are lifted. Remember whose body it is of which you are a member, and who is its Head. Remember that it is he who has delivered you from the power of darkness and has transferred you into God’s light and God’s kingdom. By the sacrament of Baptism you have become a temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not cast away this great Guest by evil living and become again a servant of the devil. For your freedom was bought by Christ’s own blood.

The Lord has made his salvation known to all!
Sermo 3 in Ephiphania Domini, 1-3.5

God in his merciful providence decided to come to the rescue of the world in the final age and determined that Christ should save all the nations of the earth. From among these peoples, blessed Abraham, our father, was promised a countless posterity that would emerge, not from his bodily seed, but from his fruitful faith. For this reason his posterity was compared to the throne of stars, indicating that this father of the nations would have a heavenly, not an earthly, offspring.

Now the Gentiles in their multitudes enter the household of our father (Abraham) and, as children of the promise, receive that blessing which Abraham’s fleshy children rejected. All the peoples of the earth, in the persons of the three wise men, adore their Maker, and God is known not only in Judea but throughout the world so that “his name might be great in Israel” everywhere.

Now that these mysteries of God’s gracious favour are made known to us, let us rejoice on this day of our birth and of the world’s vocation; let us celebrate and thank our merciful God, “who has made us worthy to share the lot of the saints in light; who has rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.” This is the day which Abraham rejoiced to see, when the children of his faith would be blessed in his offspring, Christ. This is the day of which David sang: “All the nations shall come and adore you, Lord.” All these prophecies began to be fulfilled when the star led the three Magi from their distant land that they might recognise and adore the King of heaven and earth. Their example urges us to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all people to Christ.

In this service, beloved, all ought to help one another so that in God’s kingdom, to which faith and good works bring us, we may shine as children of light. 

In the name of the Father, with the Son, through the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Almighty Father,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ.

Today in him a new light has dawned upon the world:
you revealed in Christ your eternal plan of salvation
and showed him as the light of all peoples.

Now with angels and archangels,
and the whole company of heaven,
we sing the unending hymn of your praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your Glory

Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.

We have seen his star in the east, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord (See Mt 2:2).

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist follows (where applicable).

Father,

The child born today is the Saviour of the world.
He made us your children.
Guide us with your light.
Help us to recognize Christ in this Eucharist
and welcome him with love,
May he welcome us into your kingdom
where he is seated at your right hand.

Amen.

When he came to us as man,
the Son of God scattered the darkness of this world,
and filled this holy night with his glory.
May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness. Amen.

God sent his angels to shepherds
to herald the great joy of the Saviors birth.
May he fill you with joy
and make you heralds of his gospel. Amen.

God has called you out of darkness, 
into his wonderful light.
May you experience his kindness and blessings,
and be strong in faith, in hope, and in love. Amen.

Because you are followers of Christ,
who appeared on this day as a light shining in darkness,
may he make you a light to all your sisters and brothers. Amen.

The wise men followed the star,
and found Christ who is light from light.
May you too find the Lord
when your pilgrimage is ended. Amen.

The blessings of our Father almighty be upon you;
in the name of + the Father,
with + the Son, 
through + the Holy Spirit; 
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. 

Amen.

Almighty God we pray that our Patron Saint Michael the Archangel will Defend us in battle.
Be our protection against wickedness and the snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
By thy power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits
Who wander through the world
For the ruin of Souls.
Amen.

Dates for your Diary:
Please refer to the Arian Benedictine Breviary for further information or contact Fr. Michael John.

The Confession of St Peter - Feast
18th January

St Agnes of Rome, Virgin and Martyr - Memorial
21st January

Conversion of St Paul the Apostle - Feast
25th January

Presentation of Christ (Candlemass (Imbolc)) - Feast
2nd February

The Chair of St Peter the Apostle at Antioch - Feast
22nd February

Michael John   Ebor.

Rev Dr B B Michael John Mackenzie-Hanson, BA (Hons), DD, acOSB.

Primus Inter Pares

Arian Catholic Archbishop Primus of York, Northern England and Scotland

Cont@ct us

michael.johnarian-catholic.org

Download the latest Liturgical Calendar ... http://ipriest.org.uk/calendar/

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