The Roman Missal: Advent to the Sundays after Epiphany (English) 20

1[Should any of the following Octaves fall on a Sunday, the Mass is said of that Octave, without any Commemoration of Sunday.]

2[On the Octave-day of St Stephen, the Mass is the same as on his Festival, except the Prayer, which is as follows:]

3Prayer. Omnipotens. O almighty and eternal God, who didst dedicate the first-fruits of the martyrs in the blood of the blessed levite Stephen; grant, we beseech thee, that he may be an intercessor for us, who even for his persecutors besought our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who lives, &c.

4[Then are made Commemorations of St Thomas, St John, and Holy Innocents. Credo is said, and Preface of the Nativity.]

5[On the Octave-day of St John, the Mass is said as on his Feast, with Commemorations of St Thomas and Holy Innocents. Credo; and Preface of the Apostles.]

6[On the Octave-day of Holy Innocents, Mass is said as on their Feast, except that Gloria in excelsis, Alleluia, and Ite missa est are said, and a commemoration made of St Thomas.]

7[On the Octave-day of St Thomas of Canterbury, the Mass is said as on his Feast, with Commemorations as follows:]

8Prayer. Of the Vigil of the Epiphany. Omnipotens. O almighty and eternal God, direct our actions so as to be pleasing to thee, that in the name of thy beloved Son we may deserve to abound in good works. Who lives, &c.

9Of St Telesphorus, P.M. Deus qui nos. O God, who givest us joy by the annual solemnity of blessed Telesphorus, thy martyr and bishop, mercifully grant that we may rejoice in the protection of him whose festival we venerate. Through our Lord, &c.

10Secret. Of the Vigil. Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that the offering made to the eyes of thy Majesty may both obtain for us the grace of pious devotion, and procure the effect of a happy eternity. Through our Lord, &c.

11Of St Telesphorus. Sanctify, O Lord, the gifts consecrated to thee, and by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus, thy martyr and bishop, by the same, look down favourably upon us. Through, &c.

12Postcom. Of the Vigil. Per hujus. By the operation of this mystery, O Lord, may our vices be cleansed away, and our just desires accomplished. Through our Lord, &c.

13Of St Telesphorus. Refecti. Refreshed by partaking of the sacred oblation, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus, thy martyr and bishop, we may perceive the effect of what we have celebrated. Through, &c.

14[Last Gospel of the Vigil of the Epiphany.]

15Gospel. St Matt. ii. 19—23. At that time: when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, saying; Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the life of the child. Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets; That he shall be called a Nazarite.