January 8th - Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany

The Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white as on the feast. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke describe the Finding in the Temple with the LORD debating the learned doctors to the amazement of those who witnessed this manifestation of Him.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of the feast of the Epiphany were sung, Ante luciferum genitus etc, not doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The chapter, Fratres, Obsecro vos, is proper to the Sunday, the Office hymn, Hostis Herodes impie, with the versicle Reges Tharsis etc of the Octave and the antiphon on the Magnificat, Remansit puer Jesus, proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave of the Epiphany the antiphon being proper for the 7th January, Videntes stellam Magi etc. At Compline Te lucis was sung with a Doxology of the Epiphany Gloria tibi Domine, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christus apparuit nobis, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. The antiphons and psalms are as on the second day within the Octave. In the first nocturn the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians is read. The lessons are longer than those found in the modern editions: The first lesson includes the modern second Gratias ago Deo meo ... Christi, Domini nostri. The second lesson begins Obsecro autem, the same as the modern third. The third lesson is absent from the modern editions, Gratias ago Deo...prudentiam reprobabo, i.e. vv. 14 - 19. The first responsory is Hodie, the other responsories as on the feast. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo (again they are longer than in later editions of the Breviary). In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Augustine, the lessons are the same as in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons from the feast, Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, not doubled, with the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150). The chapter is proper to the Sunday, as sung at Vespers yesterday and the Office hymn is O Sola magnarum urbium. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave, the antiphon on the Benedictus being Hodie etc, as on the feast.

At the Hours the psalms of Lauds are used with the feastal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii)). At Prime the versicle Qui apparuisti hodie is sung (as it is for the entire Octave). The Dominical preces are omitted. The hymns have the Doxology and melody of the Epiphany.

The Mass In excelso throno is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. As it is a Sunday within an Octave there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the communicantes and Hanc igitur are of the Epiphany.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are as on the feast. The chapter is proper to the Sunday and the Office hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Epiphany the antiphon on the Magnificat being Tribus miraculis. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal