In the final hours, it is cold. Piercing cold, like described in the Christmas Novena I’ve been saying every day since the Feast of St. Andrew. Hail and blessed be the hour and momentin which the Son of God was bornof the most pure Virgin Mary,at midnight,in Bethlehem,in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe, O my … More Advent, the piercing cold
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expectation and Saviour of the nations! come and save us, O Lord our God! We are very close now. Making lists and checking them twice. O Wisdom, Order, and Prudence. I need You. O Adonai, Leadership, Laws, and Redemption. I need You. O Root of Jesse, Ensign, and … More Advent, the Savior
O King of the Gentiles and the desire thereof, Thou cornerstone that makes both one, come and deliver mankind, whom Thou didst form out of clay. The verses that inspire this antiphon begged to be read in entirety. And truly, all the context around them. My Christmas list, already quite lofty, insists on going further…extending … More Advent, the Cornerstone
O Day-Spring,Brightness of light eternal,and Sun of Justice,come and enlightenthem that sit in darknessand in the shadow of death. Today’s Antiphon ends with the same line as yesterday’s, referring to those who “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” And I thought, isn’t it enough? He comes to bring the prisoner forth. Yesterday. … More Advent, the Light
O Key of David, and sceptre of the house of Israel! who openest, and no man shutteth: who shuttest, and no man openeth; come, and lead the captive from prison, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. Is. 22:22; Apoc. 3:7; Lk. 1:79 Thou hast, O eternal Light, to shine in the midst … More Advent, the Key
O Root of Jesse, Which standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, Whom the Gentiles shall beseech: come and deliver us, and tarry not. Isaiah 11:10 An ensign is like a signal, standard, or a banner. It can point out a place where everyone of the same tribe is … More Advent, the Ensign
Nearing sunset, in the mindset of Vespers, to continue the Christmas List of the Church, I listen to the next solemn prayer. “O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and didst give unto him the law on Sinai: come and with … More Advent, O Adonai
Time is pressing in. We’re getting ever closer to Christmas, and so many conversations yesterday were about lists. What is on your Christmas list? What do you want? What do you need? What would you never spend your own money on, but would totally make you smile? What will make you happy? With all this … More Advent, the Antiphons
Today feels like a crossroads. A point where I must choose to go back, try an easier path, stay right here, or keep going forward. “For the grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men; instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this … More Advent, endurance
Jesus said there is no man born of woman greater than John the Baptist. (See Luke 7:28 and Matthew 11:11) St. John the Baptist is one of my favorite saints. There are so many valuable lessons in his life that Scripture starts telling about him even before he was conceived. I find it vitally important … More Advent, “He must increase; I must decrease”
thepath2eternity 