Wednesday, December 23, 2009

O Emmanuel (O God With Us - Dec 23th)


Today's great O antiphon is "O Emmanuel" - (O God With Us).  How can we possibly comprehend the mystery that God so loved us and desired that we know him intimately, that he took on human flesh and dwelt among us.

[Posting this after the fact (on Christmas day), but our Holy Father's Christmas Eve homily beautifully contemplates 'Emmanuel, God with us'.]

Monsignor Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of Dallas TX has a beautiful reflection on this today.  It begins with the following:
"God entered concretely, in the flesh, in the midst of human lives and he continues to dwell in the midst of human lives, in the midst of our lives."
He goes on to encourage us to:
"Pause and consider this Mystery anew in this holy Season. Remove it from the restrictive confines of its familiarity. Just pause a moment before the Nativity scene and ponder as did Mary, as did the shepherds and the wise men. And realize that if God entered our history in a given moment, it was a moment whose impact would never cease to be felt."





O Emmanuel


O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God


* * *
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Come Emmanuel Verse

Come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that morns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, veni, Emmanuel
captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio. 


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!
Photo:

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

O Rex Genitum (O King of all Nations - Dec 22th)

Today's great O antiphon is "O Rex Genitum" - (O King of All Nations).  It contemplates Christ as the king of not only Israel, but of the gentiles.
 The image here is from a 14th century fresco by Giotto in the Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel) in Padua Italy.  The Magi knew this was the King, Herod knew this was the King. With the endless distractions of this life, let me never loses sight of what Herod and the Magi knew.


O Rex Genitum


O King of all the nations,
the only joy of every human heart;
O Keystone of the mighty arch of man,
come and save the creature
you fashioned from the dust..
.

* * *
O Rex Gentium,
et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis,
qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, veni, Rex Gentium,
veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulos
peccati sibi conscios.


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Photo:

Monday, December 21, 2009

O Oriens (O Radient Dawn - Dec 21th)


Today's O antiphon is "O Oriens" - (O Dayspring).  It reflects on Christ as the 'light of the world' who will 'shine on those who dwell in darkness'.  The image is the 15th century painting by Geertgen, 'Nativity, at Night', and depicts the radiance of the infant Christ Child who illuminates the entire scene.

Long before Christ's birth, Isaiah (9:2) proclaims the hope and expectation that:

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light

In Matthew, speaking to the woman who was to be stoned, Jesus reveals (to her and to us) the truth that He is this light:

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more." Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

He encouraged her to follow him, sin no more, and if she did, she would have the 'light of life', she would not walk in darkness. The same is true for us.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying:
  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
   Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
   Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
   Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
   Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
   Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
   Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 9 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
  You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

The Vatican II document Lumen Gentium (Light of The Nations) reaffirms this universal calling to holiness, to be the light both as individuals, and as the Church:

"All men are called to this union with Christ, who is the light of the world, from whom we go forth, through whom we live, and toward whom our whole life strains."

"So it is that that messianic people, although it does not actually include all men, and at times may look like a small flock, is nonetheless a lasting and sure seed of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race. Established by Christ as a communion of life, charity and truth, it is also used by Him as an instrument for the redemption of all, and is sent forth into the whole world as the light of the world and the salt of the earth"

In an Apostolic Letter in 2002, Pope John Paul II saw fit to suggest a new set of mysteries to the Rosary, the "Luminous Mysteries", or the "Mysteries of Light".  He explains it as follows:

Of the many mysteries of Christ's life, only a few are indicated by the Rosary in the form that has become generally established with the seal of the Church's approval. The selection was determined by the origin of the prayer, which was based on the number 150, the number of the Psalms in the Psalter. I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ's public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion. In the course of those mysteries we contemplate important aspects of the person of Christ as the definitive revelation of God. Declared the beloved Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, Christ is the one who announces the coming of the Kingdom, bears witness to it in his works and proclaims its demands. It is during the years of his public ministry that the mystery of Christ is most evidently a mystery of light: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jn 9:5).




O Oriens


O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light,
sun of justice:  come,
shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.


* * *
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol iustitiae: veni,
et illumina sedentes in tenebris
et umbra mortis.


O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, veni O Oriens,
solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas,
dirasque mortis tenebras.


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Photo: http://www.wga.hu

Sunday, December 20, 2009

O Clavis David (O Key of David - Dec 20th)

Today's great O antiphon is "O Clavis David" - O Key of David. This title for Jesus comes again from Isaiah (Isaiah 22:22 and others).

"I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open."

Christ has the keys to go anywhere and deliver anyone.  In researching this, I was surprisingly lead to a page on this antiphon by Deacon Chris with the icon of Christ's descent into hell, or 'The Harrowing of Hell'.  The Catechism says the following:

634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead."483 The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

635 Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."484 Jesus, "the Author of life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."485 Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."486

IN BRIEF

636 By the expression "He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14).

637 In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him.

483 I Pt 4:6.
482 Cf. Council of Rome (745): DS 587; Benedict XII, Cum dudum (1341): DS 1011; Clement VI, Super quibusdam (1351): DS 1077; Council of Toledo IV (625): DS 485; Mt 27:52-53.
485 Heb 2:14-15; cf. Acts 3:15.
486 Rev 1:18; Phil 2:10.
Christ has the power (keys) to save all souls and He desires that each of these souls spend eternity at peace in Heaven. He 'descended to the dead' and saved the Holy souls that had left this world prior to his coming. He entrusted this power to the Church on earth when he said to Peter "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19. He calls us to true sorrow and contrition for our sins and to live in holiness. We receive this forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he entrusted to the Church.

Lord Jesus, Key of David, let me never despair of or doubt your mercy or power to forgive my sins when I have gone astray.



O Clavis David


O Key of David,
and scepter of the house of Israel,
you open, and no one shuts,
you shut, and no one opens:
come, and lead the prisoner
from jail.
seated in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
.

* * *

O Clavis David,
et sceptrum domus Israël,
qui aperis, et nemo claudit,
claudis, et nemo aperuit:
veni, et educ vinctum
de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.

O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.


Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, Clavis Davidica,
regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum,
et claude vias inferum.


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Photo: http://deaconchris.com/2008/12/20/o-antiphons-key-of-david-dec-20/

Saturday, December 19, 2009

O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse - Dec 19th)


Today's great O antiphon is "O Radix Jesse" - (O Root of Jesse).  The Gospel reading this week from Thursday, Dec 17th (Matt 1:1-17) recounts the Genealogy of Jesus, linking him to the House of David (14 generations), and linking David to Abraham (14 generations).

So who is this Jesse, what is 'the root', and what does this have to do with Advent?  Well, Jesse was the father of King David.   Wiki gives this brief overview of David's life:
His life may be dated to c.1040–970 BC, his reign over Judah c.1010–1003 BC, and his reign over the united Kingdom of Israel c.1003–970 BC (2 Samuel 5:4-5). The Books of Samuel are the primary source of information on his life and reign, continuing with his descendants in the Books of Kings.
King David wrote many of the Psalms, infamously slayed the giant Goliath, and was the great heavenly anointed ruler of Israel.  During the decline and ultimate end of the Davidic kings (which had lasted more than 400 years), in the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah foretells that the 'Anointed one', the Christ, the Messiah, would one day descend from the "house of David", (the root of Jesse) and restore the Jewish Kingdom.  The Jewish people expected (and continue to expect) that this 'Anointed one' would return and re-establish the heavenly Jewish Kingdom.  Christians believe that Jesus was this 'Christ', the 'Anointed one', the 'Holy One of Israel'.  When Isaiah wrote, he was expressing the expectation, longing and hope of Israel for the reestablishment of this Jewish Kingdom by this Messiah.  This longing for the return of the Jewish Kingdom was so real and strong among the people, that King Herod feared the birth of this "King of the Jews" so greatly that he tried to destroy Him by slaughtering all the male children in Bethlehem in the Massacre of the Holy Innocents, which we 'celebrate' (seems like an odd word here) right after Christmas, on Dec 28th.

So during Advent we are in part recalling or reliving that great hope and longing of the Jewish people for the coming of the Anointed One, and the salvation of Israel.  We relive and celebrate that first advent - the birth of Christ - and the salvation not only of Israel, but of those who dwell in every nation.  In hindsight, we also know that Christ came, was rejected, crucified, died, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven where he lives with the Father.  We believe He will come again, and thus we continue to express and live this hope at each Mass when we pray to be kept 'free of all fear and anxiety' as we 'wait in joyful hope' for this second coming.

O root of Jesse, strengthen our faith and longing for union with you in this life and beyond.  Remove all that keeps us separated from you and keep us free of all fear and anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of you, our Savior, Jesus Christ.



O Radix Jesse


O Root of Jesse,
who stand as a sign for the people,
kings stand silent in your presence,
whom the nations will worship:
come to set us free,
put it off no longer.
.

* * *
O Radix Jesse,
qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos,
jam noli tardare


O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
form ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, O Iesse virgula,
ex hostis tuos ungula,
de spectu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Photo: Jacques de Besançon, Paris, c.1485, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Jesse

Friday, December 18, 2009

O Adonai (O Lord of All - Dec 18th)

Today's antiphon is "O Adonai" - (O Lord of Israel), and is based on Isaiah 11:4-5 and 32:22.  It contemplates the Lord as ruler of all, the giver of the law to Moses, and petitions the Lord to 'come' with hand outstretched, ready to forgive and redeem us.

Lord, grant that we may always embrace and be faithful to your life giving commandments. May we "delight in your law, and meditate on it day and night". May you truly be the ruler of our lives never let us despair of your mercy when we have gone astray. We ask this in the name of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.



O Adonai


O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
    who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
    and gave him the law on Sinai:
    Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

* * *
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
    qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
    et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
    veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, veni, Adonai,
qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice
in maiestate gloriae


 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

O Sapientia (O Wisdom - Dec 17)


Today marks the first of the "O Antiphons" which are recited before and after the Magnificat during Vespers for the last 7 days before Christmas.  The seven 'O antiphons' come from the titles for the Messiah in Isaiah.  This site, this site, and this site have a great summaries.  The traditional verses of the advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" correspond to each of the O Antiphons.

Today's antiphon is "O Sapientia" - (O Wisdom), and is based on Isaiah 11:2-3 and 28:29.




O Sapientia


O Wisdom from the mouth of the Most High,
you fill the whole world.
With strength and gentleness you order all things:
come to teach us the way of prudence.
* * *
O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

O Come Emmanuel Verse

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!


 Veni, O Sapientia,
 quae hic disponis omnia,
 veni, viam prudentiae
 ut doceas et gloriae.

 Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
 Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Immaculate Conception

In Mass for the Children this morning, on this, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Dave (with help from the children in the 4th grade class) gave a beautiful homily on Mary as a model for all Christians. The message? Let her "Yes" to God's calling be our own. Let her "Love" of Christ, our Lord, her Son and her Lord, be our own. Let her "Service" to God be our own, and let us follow her in "Glorifying" God.

In short, let us follow her example in: Willingness, Love, Service, and Glorifying God in all things.

I was raised Lutheran until 2007, when my family and I were received into full communion in the Catholic Church.  Martin Luther had a strong devotion to Mary, and he retained his belief in the Immaculate Conception.  Here are a few of his quotes:
"It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary’s soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God’s gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin" (Sermon: "On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God," 1527)."


"She is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin-something exceedingly great. For God’s grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil. (Personal "Little" Prayer Book, 1522)."


"Mother Mary, like us, was born in sin of sinful parents, but the Holy Spirit covered her, sanctified and purified her so that this child was born of flesh and blood, but not with sinful flesh and blood. The Holy Spirit permitted the Virgin Mary to remain a true, natural human being of flesh and blood, just as we. However, he warded off sin from her flesh and blood so that she became the mother of a pure child, not poisoned by sin as we are. For in that moment when she conceived, she was a holy mother filled with the Holy Spirit and her fruit is a holy pure fruit, at once God and truly man, in one person."
Somewhat embarrassingly, the first time I came to understand that the Immaculate Conception was related to Mary's Conception, and not our Lord's, was in the middle of an RCIA class in 2007 (Fr. John explained that this was a common misconception - (no pun intended)). My first reaction to this? "Catholics believe what? Wait a minute, no human being is without sin but our Lord.".  I began to read more so I could try understand how Catholics understood this.  One of the more important books I read was Hail Holy Queen by Dr. Scott Hahn.  I realized:
  • This belief in the Immaculate Conception of Mary had been a part of the historic Christian Tradition and celebrated from the earliest times.
  • Mary, the Blessed Virgin, played a unique role in salvation history. No other human being was called by God to directly cooperate in His Incarnation. This is a belief most Christians share, as expressed in the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, and is of course told as the Annunciation story in Luke.
  • If God chose Mary to cooperate in salvation history through the Incarnation (a unique gift indeed), why did my mind not want to allow me to believe that he also pre-granted her this gift of total sanctifying grace to protect her from all sin from the moment of her conception. God could have chosen to bring about the Incarnation between two humans (or from one not 'full of grace', or a million other ways for that matter), but He did not, he chose Mary, who said 'Yes'.
  • It was thorough no merits of Mary's own that she was granted this gift. Neither was it through her own merits that she was chosen to cooperate in the Incarnation.
  • The Angel Gabriel said to her, (and to us) that she was 'full of grace'. What does it mean to be 'full of grace'.  My understanding and experience is that we experience God's grace here on earth, but that it is only a partial grace, and a foretaste of the grace we will experience in heaven (when we are 'full of grace'). Not so with Mary, she was truly 'full of grace' when the Angel Gabriel proclaimed it, and according to the Catholic understanding, from the earliest Father's onward, she was 'full of grace' from the moment of her conception.


Through reading what the Church actually believes, I became very comfortable in believing, accepting, and embracing that Mary was indeed granted this special grace, and that this detracted not one bit from Christ, by whose merits it was granted. Of course this was formally recognized as something the Church had always held to be true by Pope Pius IX in 1854. In his words:


"We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful."
—Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854



Immaculate Conception Links

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/immaculateconception.shtml
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/angelus/2003/documents/hf_jp-ii_ang_20031208_en.html
http://gsearch.vatican.va/search?q=immaculate+conception&x=0&y=0

    Photos: The Immaculate Conception, Martino Altomonte, 1719, National Gallery of Slovenia, Ljubljana, http://www.wga.hu (1) /  Immaculate Conception, Francesco, Signorelli, 1523, http://www.wga.hu (2)