EPIPHANY PRAYER

1. O HOLY Magi, you were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, which would announce the birth of the true Sun of justice; obtain for us an increase of faith and charity, and the grace to live in continual hope of beholding one day the light of heavenly glory and eternal joy.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

2. O holy Magi, who at the first appearance of the wondrous star left your native country to go and seek the new born King of the Jews; obtain for us the grace of corresponding with alacrity to every divine inspiration.

Glory be, etc.

3. O holy Magi, who regarded neither the severity of the season, nor the inconveniences of the journey that you might find the new-born Messiah; obtain for us the grace not to allow ourselves to be discouraged by any of the difficulties which may meet us in the way of salvation.

Glory be, etc.

4. O holy Magi, who, when deserted by the star in the city of Jerusalem, sought humbly, and without human respect, from the rulers of the Church, the place where you might discover the object of your journey; obtain for us grace to have recourse, in faith and humility, in all our doubts and perplexities to the counsel of our superiors, who hold the place of God on earth.

Glory be, etc.

5. O holy Magi, who were gladdened by the reappearance of the star which led you to Bethlehem; obtain for us from God the grace, that, remaining always faithful to Him in afflictions, we may be consoled in time by His grace, and in eternity by His glory.

Glory be, etc.

6. O holy Magi, who, entering full of faith into the stable of Bethlehem, prostrated yourselves on the earth, to adore the new-born King of the Jews, though He was surrounded only by signs of poverty and weakness; obtain from the Lord for us a lively faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the true spirit of poverty, and a Christlike charity for the poor and suffering.

Glory be, etc.

7. O holy Magi, who offered to Jesus Christ gold, incense, and myrrh, thereby recognizing Him to be at once King, God, and Man; obtain from the Lord for us the grace never to present ourselves before Him with empty hands; but that we may continually offer to Him the gold of charity, the incense of prayer, and the myrrh of penance and mortification.

Glory be, etc.

8. O holy Magi, who, when warned by an angel not to return to Herod, travelled back to your country by another road; obtain for us from the Lord the grace that, after having found Him by true repentance, we may avoid all danger of losing Him again.

Glory be, etc.

9. O holy Magi, who were the first among the Gentiles called to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who persevered in the faith till your deaths, obtain for us of the Lord the grace of living always in conformity to the baptismal promises and especially in accordance with our Religious Vows, leading ever a life of faith; that like you we may attain to the beatific vision of that God Who now is the object of our faith.

Glory be, etc.

Antiphon: From the east the Magi came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia.

V. Many shall come from Sheba.

R. Bearing gold and incense.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto you.

Let us pray.

O God, who on this day revealed your Only Begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the beauty of your sublime glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.