Free Republic

The 'O' Antiphons The O Antiphons, so called because they all begin with the exhortation "O," are part of the Divine Office. These prayers are sung or said on the seven days before the Vigil of the Nativity, beginning on December 17th. A collection of phrases from Biblical texts, largely the wisdom and prophetic books, they are believed to have been composed by a cantor of the 7th or 8th century. The Antiphons became truly popular during the Middle Ages. They speak of man's desire and longing for God, a longing which has existed throughout the history of God's people...

O Antiphons    The seven "O Antiphons" (also called the "Greater Antiphons" or "Major Antiphons") are prayers that come from the Breviary's Vespers during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the "Golden Nights." Each Antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin "Ero Cras" which means "Tomorrow I come." Those titles for Christ are: SapientiaAdonaiRadix JesseClavis DavidOriensRex GentiumEmmanuel  These glorious titles in more detail:  Title: Meaning: Old Testament prophetic verses: Sapientia Wisdom...

December 17, 2007                                 Monday of the Third Week of Advent Psalm: Monday 43       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Gn 49:2, 8-10 Jacob called his sons and said to them:“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob,listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise–your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you.Judah, like a lion’s whelp,you have grown up on prey, my son.He crouches like a lion recumbent,the king of beasts–who would dare rouse him?The scepter shall never depart from Judah,or the...

December 16, 2007                                 Third Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 43       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 35:1-6a, 10 The desert and the parched land will exult;the steppe will rejoice and bloom.They will bloom with abundant flowers,and rejoice with joyful song.The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;they will see the glory of the LORD,the splendor of our God.Strengthen the hands that are feeble,make firm the knees that are weak,say to those whose hearts are frightened:Be strong, fear not!Here is your God,he comes with...

December 15, 2007                               Saturday of the Second Week of Advent Psalm: Saturday 42       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 In those days,like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijahwhose words were as a flaming furnace.Their staff of bread he shattered,in his zeal he reduced them to straits;By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavensand three times brought down fire.How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!Whose glory is equal to yours?You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire,in a chariot with fiery horses.You were destined, it is written, in time to cometo put...

“The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From David to the Deportation” (Matthew 1:1, 6b-11)Last week we began looking at how Matthew begins his gospel--for that matter, the whole New Testament. He begins with a genealogy, a genealogy that takes in much of Old Testament history. It is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. But Jesus was, first of all, the Savior of Israel, the promised Messiah, the one who fulfilled the promises given to Israel’s forefathers. It was as the fulfillment of those promises that Jesus came into the world--as the culmination, the climax, of Israel’s history....

December 11, 2007                                Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent Psalm: Tuesday 42       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 40:1-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her service is at an end,her guilt is expiated;Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORDdouble for all her sins. A voice cries out:In the desert prepare the way of the LORD!Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!Every valley shall be filled in,every mountain and hill shall be made low;The rugged land shall be made a plain,the rough...

The carol, as a religious song for a particular season, dates back to the 13th century but it hit glory days during the next century gaining widespread popularity. Over the following hundred years the carol developed musically and as a literary form in its own right, but was silenced by the Reformation in England and replaced by the metrical Psalm. A resurgence of carols in the 18th century has helped them become the sine qua non of the Christmas season. ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ was penned in 1739 by Charles Wesley, whose brother John founded the Methodist church.The...

December 10, 2007                                 Monday of the Second Week of Advent Psalm: Monday 42     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will exult;the steppe will rejoice and bloom.They will bloom with abundant flowers,and rejoice with joyful song.The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;They will see the glory of the LORD,the splendor of our God.Strengthen the hands that are feeble,make firm the knees that are weak,Say to those whose hearts are frightened:Be strong, fear not!Here is your God,he comes with vindication;With divine recompensehe comes to save you.Then will...

December 9, 2007                                 Second Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 42       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 11:1-10 On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,and from his roots a bud shall blossom.The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,a spirit of counsel and of strength,a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.Not by appearance shall he judge,nor by hearsay shall he decide,but he shall judge the poor...

“To Fulfill What Was Spoken by the Prophet: ‘The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness’” (Matthew 3:1-12)Last week we entered what I called, “The Year of St. Matthew,” a new church year in which most all of the Sunday Gospel readings will come from the holy evangelist Matthew. We said that one of the characteristics of Matthew’s account is his frequent use of introducing quotations from the Old Testament with a “fulfillment” formula, something like, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet. . . .” Something like that. In fact, today is the second of...

December 6, 2007                                 Thursday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Thursday 41       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you.” Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the...

“The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From Abraham to David” (Matthew 1:1-6a)Thirty years ago, all of America was watching a television mini-series called, “Roots.” “Roots” was the story of author Alex Haley’s family, his ancestors, the generations that led up to his own life. Basically, it was a genealogy fleshed out. And it made for fascinating viewing. We humans are naturally interested in “roots,” in family histories and genealogies. A person’s family history will tell us a lot about that person--where he came from, who he is. Today we begin a series on the “roots,” the family history, of our Lord...

December 5, 2007                                Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Psalm: Wednesday 41       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesA feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord GOD will wipe awaythe tears from all faces;The reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said:“Behold our...

Advent through Christmas -- 2007 What to do on this thread. Sunday, December 2, First Week in Advent Each 24 hour day has 1,440 minutes. You are asked to give four to six of those 1,440 minutes each day to read this thread. Thus, giving you an opportunity to pray every day during Advent and Christmas * * * * * * People who pray regularly will tell you that it works best if you do it at a set time every day. The main thing is to make it part of your schedule, not something you try to squeeze...

The seasons are out of whack. And I don’t mean because of climate change or global warming. The seasons I refer to are liturgical ones, especially the beginning of the liturgical year: the Advent, followed by the Christmas Season.You know that the seasons are out of whack. We’ve all seen the Christmas decorations emerge in autumn like the changing of the leaves. By October, the retail world is in full-scale Christmas mode, with only a thin veneer of Halloween and Thanksgiving cosmetics around the edge. At their core, the stores are all about Christmas.By the time Thanksgiving has come and...

December 2, 2007                                         First Sunday of Advent Psalm: Sunday 41       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 2:1-5 This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.In days to come,the mountain of the LORD’s houseshall be established as the highest mountainand raised above the hills.All nations shall stream toward it;many peoples shall come and say:“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,to the house of the God of Jacob,that he may instruct us in his ways,and we may walk in his paths.”For from Zion shall go forth...

“To Fulfill What Was Spoken by the Prophet: ‘Behold, Your King Is Coming to You’” (Matthew 21:1-11; Zechariah 9:9-10)In the Holy Gospel for today we read: “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your king is coming to you.”’” Today we want to ask two questions: 1) How does this “fulfill what was spoken by the prophet”? and 2) What does this have to do with Advent? We’ll also be asking a third question, of course: What does this all have to do with you and me? But...

   Click here for the clickable calendar!