IN EPIPHANIA DOMINI

IN EPIPHANIA DOMINI: what ever day you celebrate Epiphany, the hymns--Prudentius and Sedulius are great.

Vesperas I & Laudes: Prudentius

From Cantus XII of The Cathemerinon.

Quicúmque Christum quæritis,

óculos in altum tóllite:

illic licébit vísere

signum perénnis glóriæ.

Hæc stella, quæ solis rotam

vincit decóre ac lúmine,

venísse terris núntiat

cum carne terréstri Deum.

En, Pérsici ex orbis sinu,

sol unde sumit iánuam,

cernunt períti intérpretes

regále vexíllum magi.

«Quis iste tantus — ínquiunt —

regnátor astris ímperans,

quem sic tremunt cæléstia,

cui lux et æthra insérviunt?

Illústre quiddam cérnimus

quod nésciat finem pati,

sublíme, celsum, intérminum,

antíquius cælo et chao.

Hic ille rex est géntium

populíque rex Iudáici,

promíssus Abrahæ patri

eiúsque in ævum sémini».

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui te revélas géntibus,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

All you who seek Christ, raise your eyes to the sky, there you will see a sign of eternal glory. This star, which in beauty and light triumphs over the rotation of the sun, proclaims to earth that God has come with earthly flesh. Look, Persians come from the part of earth where the sun makes its entrance, the Magi skilled in interpreting signs come to find the banner of the King. They ask “where is such a great Ruler of the stars who commands that the heavens tremble before him, whom the light and sky obey? The brightness we found will know no end: the most high, heavenly, infinite, older than heaven and the formless void. This is the King of the nations, the King of the Jews, promised to Father Abraham and his seed forever. O Jesus, to you be glory, you who revealed yourself to the Gentiles, with the Father and loving Spirit for eternal ages. Amen.

Ad Officium lectionis: Prudentius

The continuation of Quicumque Christum quaeritis.

Magi vidéntes párvulum

eóa promunt múnera,

stratíque votis ófferunt

tus, myrrham et aurum régium.

Agnósce clara insígnia

virtútis ac regni tui,

Puer, cui trinam Pater

prædestinávit índolem:

Regem Deúmque annúntiant

thesáurus et fragrans odor

turis Sabæi, at mýrrheus

pulvis sepúlcrum prædocet.

O sola magnárum úrbium

maior Bethlem, cui cóntigit

ducem salútis cælitus

incorporátum gígnere!

Hunc et prophétis téstibus

îsdémque signatóribus

testátor et sator iubet

adíre regnum et cérnere:

Regnum quod ambit ómnia

dia et marína et térrea

a solis ortu ad éxitum

et tártara et cælum supra.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui te revélas géntibus,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

The Magi seeing the baby present him with gifts from the East, prostrate they offer prayers incense, myrrh and gold fit for kings. Child, recognize these clear signs of your power and your kingdom, to you the Father predestined a threefold nature. The treasure of gold and the fragrant smell of the incense of Sheba proclaim you King and God, while the myrrh dust foretells the tomb. Bethlehem, greater than all great cities, where the Captain of heavenly salvation took flesh and was born.  Here in accord with prophetic testimony and witness the Father and Testator commands that the kingdom come and be seen.  A kingdom which encompasses all things, divinity, sea and earth from the rising of the sun to its setting both the underworld and the heaven above.  O Jesus, to you be glory, you who revealed yourself to the Gentiles, with the Father and loving Spirit for eternal ages. Amen.

Vesperas II: Sedulius

This hymn continues A solis ortus cardine.

Hostis Heródes ímpie,

Christum veníre quid times?

Non éripit mortália

qui regna dat cæléstia.

Ibant magi, qua vénerant

stellam sequéntes præviam,

lumen requírunt lúmine,

Deum faténtur múnere.

Lavácra puri gúrgitis

cæléstis Agnus áttigit;

peccáta quæ non détulit

nos abluéndo sústulit.

Novum genus poténtiæ:

aquæ rubéscunt hýdriæ,

vinúmque iussa fúndere

mutávit unda oríginem.

Iesu, tibi sit glória,

qui te revélas géntibus,

cum Patre et almo Spíritu,

in sempitérna sæcula. Amen.

Why, O impious Herod, do you fear the coming of Christ? He who gives a heavenly kingdom does not usurp mortal ones. Following the lead of the star, the Magi came to worship, by light they seek light, by their gifts they profess him to be God. The heavenly Lamb touched Jordan’s cleansing waters; by washing he took washed us from sins that were not his own. A new type of power: the water in the jars becomes red and by his command wine flows out, its nature transformed. O Jesus, to you be glory, you who revealed yourself to the Gentiles, with the Father and loving Spirit for eternal ages. Amen