Blog Archives

The Post-Christmas Triology

12/28/2020

"The Church presents to us the 'first fruits' of these 'true Christians,' those who by their works, and even by their death, having sung the glory of the Redeemer. We see them in the retinue of the divine Child, like angels on earth, who unite their hymn to that of the angels in heaven."

Thou Art the Son of God

12/24/2020

Dominus dixit ad me:
Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te.

The Lord hath said to me: Thou art My Son, this day I have begotten Thee.
- Introit: Mass for Christmas Day (midnight)

“Arise … Mary invites all, rich and poor, just and sinners to enter the cave of Bethlehem, to adore and to kiss the feet of her new-born Son. Go in, then … go and see the Creator of heaven and earth on a little hay, under the form of a little Infant; but so beautiful that He sheds all around rays of lights. Now that He is born and is lying on the straw, the cave is no longer horrible, but is become a paradise. Let us enter, let us not be afraid …

“Now then, Jesus invites you to come and kiss His feet. The shepherds who came to visit Him in the stable of Bethlehem brought their gifts; you must also bring your gifts. What will you bring Him? The most acceptable present you can bring Him is that of a contrite and loving heart. Let each on then say to Him before He comes:

‘Lord, I should not have dared to approach Thee, seeing myself so deformed by my sins, but since Thou, my Jesus, dost invite me so courteously, and dost call me so lovingly, I will not refused. After having so many times turned my back upon Thee, I will not add this fresh insult, namely, that of refusing this affectionate, this loving invitation, out of distrust.’ Say to Him: ‘Thou must know that I am poor, and that I have nothing to give Thee. I have nothing but this heart; this I now offer to Thee ….

I am a sinner, it is true, and I do not deserve to be pardoned; but I come before Thee, Who, being God, hast become a little Child to obtain pardon for me. Eternal Father, if I merit hell, look at the tears of Thy innocent Son; they invoke Thy pardon on my behalf. Thou dost deny nothing to the prayers of Thy Son …

Ah, my Infant Jesus, I hope for pardon from Thee; but the forgiveness of my sins alone is not sufficient. On this day (night) Thou dost grant great spiritual graces; I also desire that Thou should bestow a great grace on me – it is the grace to love Thee. Now that I am about to approach Thy feet, inflame me wholly with Thy holy love, and bind me to Thee; but bind me so effectually that I may nevermore be separated from Thee. I love Thee, O my God, Who didst become a little Child for my sake; but I love Thee very little; I desire to love Thee very much, and Thou hast to enable me to do it. I come then, to kiss Thy feet, and I offer Thee my heart; I leave it in Thy hands; I will have it no longer; do Thou change it and keep it forever; do not give it back to me again; for if Thou dost, I fear lest it should betray Thee afresh.’

“Most holy Mary, thou art the Mother of this great Son, but who art also my Mother, it is to thee that I consecrate my poor heart; present it to Jesus; and He will not refuse to receive it, when presented by thee. Do thou then, present it, and beg Him to accept it.”

Exhortation read during the Kissing of the Feet of the Holy Infant on Christmas
- adapted from St. Alphonsus Ligouri

May the joy of Our Lady be yours on this most blessed day, when Our Savior came into the world, and your hearts rejoice with the angels in singing Glory to God in the Highest!
We wish you, your family, and your loved ones a holy and merry Christmas.

O Emmanuel

12/23/2020

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

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

“Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

O Rex Gentium

12/22/2020

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

O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom you have made out of the dust of the earth!

His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. (Isaiah 2:4)

O Oriens

12/21/2020

O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. (Isaiah 9:2)

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall set them on fire, says the Lord of hosts, it shall not leave them root, nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd. And you shall tread down the wicked when they shall be ashes under the sole of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)

O Clavis David

12/20/2020

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

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

O Radix Jesse

12/19/2020

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 Root of Jesse, which stands as a sign for the people, at whom the kings shall close their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. (Isaiah 11:1)

In that day the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the people, him the Gentiles shall seek out, and his dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha, least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:1)

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

O Adonai

12/18/2020

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

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who did appear to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law at Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

“The Lord is our judge. The Lord is our ruler. The Lord is our king. He will save us.”
Isaiah 33:22

Listen to the chanted Antiphon

Novena for the Lord's Nativity

12/17/2020

The average Christian is well acquainted with the Church's recommendation to prepare for major liturgical feasts (including the feasts of saints) through the praying of a novena, most commonly prayed nine days preceding the feast. The coming of the Messiah's birth is of no exception!

Advent & the Ember Fasts

12/16/2020

Line Art representing the Ember Days within the Liturgical Year

Today the Advent season is not often a season which one associates with penance and fasting. However, when one dives into the Church's traditions, the Ember Days & Fasts were held in esteem as the way to begin the Liturgical Seasons.

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