FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY; SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EPIPHANY; BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

First Sunday After The Epiphany

THE HOLY FAMILY
COMMEMORATION OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE

From eternity, the Son of God had lived the family life of the Blessed Trinity. At Nazareth, as the Redeemer both of individuals and of families, He lived and made holy the home life that guards divine life in every baptized person.

Problems of family life center mainly in personalities. But social pressures and poverty also add disturbing tensions. Happily, God made marriage a sacrament, which is ministered by husband and wife to one another. Through the sacrament, they communicate to one another those special graces they need for living their enduring and sometimes difficult obligations.

God remains the third partner in every marriage, with His own inalienable rights. In the Holy Family, God Incarnate was the third member. In a Christian family, anywhere in the world, the father is the spiritual head who takes the place of Christ.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Prov. 23:24, 25

The Father of the just one greatly rejoices. Let your father and your mother be joyful, and let her who bore you be glad.
Ps. 83:2, 3. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and faints for the courts of the Lord.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified home life with untold virtues by being subject to Mary and Joseph. May they assist us to imitate the example of Your Holy Family, so that we may share with them their eternal happiness; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of the First Sunday After The Epiphany

O Lord, mercifully hear the plea of those who call upon You, that Your people may understand their duty and be strengthened to fulfill it.

Commemoration of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The Christ Child was manifested to the wise men from the East as the king of the world, the ruler of all nations. The mature God-man opens His public ministry with the manifestation of His divinity on the shore of the Jordan River.

The Sacrament of Baptism, prefigured by the baptism of John, incorporates us into union with God. Adopted as sons and made co-heirs of heaven through Baptism and the Holy Spirit, we begin our mission as followers of Christ. Our own lives must echo the words of the forerunner of Christ: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

O God, Your only-begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh. May He who outwardly was like us, change us interiorly; who lives and rules with You . . .

EPISTLE Col. 3:12-17

Brethren: Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

GRADUAL Ps. 26:4; 83:5

One thing I have asked of the Lord; this will I seek after: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
V. Happy they who dwell in Your house, O Lord! They shall praise You forever and ever.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Isa. 45:15

Verily You are a hidden king, the God of Israel, the Savior.

Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 2:42-52

And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why hast thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." And he said to them: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?"

And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Luke 2:22

The parents of Jesus took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.

SECRET

O Lord, we offer You this sacrifice in atonement for our sins. May the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and blessed Joseph, ever bestow Your peace and grace upon our families. Through our Lord . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

May the sacrifice we offer You, O Lord, bring us new life and keep us safe.

Commemoration of the BAPTISM OF THE LORDWe celebrate the manifestation of Your new-born Son with these offerings, O Lord. we humbly beg that Jesus Christ, our Lord, who created them, will mercifully accept them from us; who lives and rules with You . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Luke 2:51

Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

POSTCOMMUNION

We are refreshed by Your heavenly Sacrament, O Lord Jesus. Help us always to follow the example of Your Holy Family, that Your glorious Virgin Mother and blessed Joseph may meet us at the hour of our death, and find us worthy to enter with You into Your eternal home; who lives and rules with God the Father . . .

Commemoration of the FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

Almighty God, we humbly ask that those who are nourished with Your Sacrament may live a life of worthy service pleasing to You.

Commemoration of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD

O Lord, guide us always and everywhere with Your light from above so that we may clearly appreciate this Sacrament. You have allowed us to share in It; may we always receive It worthily. Through Our Lord . . .