Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 23 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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 to save us, O Lord our God.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 20 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 19 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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 Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples,
kings stand silent in your presence,
the nations bow down in worship before you:
come to deliver us, do not tarry.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 17 Dec 2009 | Tagged as: Dominicans, Liturgical Feasts
Today the Church’s Advent prayer takes a sharp turn toward Christmas. The texts of the Divine Office and Mass now point us directly to the mystery of the Nativity. The Gospel readings we’ll hear over the next week are especially worth noting in this regard. Listen well to them. Pray with them. Through them, draw near to Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem.
Every year around this time, the Church’s “O Antiphons” receive a lot of attention. We begin using them this evening. Include these, too, in your prayer. Each calls out to Christ according to one of his Messianic titles. All together the antiphons summarize the content of Israel’s waiting for the Messiah, as well as the wonders wrought by his birth.
For a brief history and listing of the O Antiphons, click here.
In 2006, the student brothers of the English Province recorded their singing of the O Antiphons to the traditional Dominican tones. Over the next week, I’ll post each of their videos on the appropriate day. First up, “O Sapientia.”
O Sapientia,
quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 23 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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 to save us, O Lord our God.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 22 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
O Rex Gentium,
et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis,
qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.
O King of the nations,
and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 21 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 20 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 19 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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 Flower of Jesse’s stem,
you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples,
kings stand silent in your presence,
the nations bow down in worship before you:
come to deliver us, do not tarry.
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 18 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
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 Sacred Lord of ancient Israel,
and Ruler of the house of Israel,
Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush,
and gavest him the law in Sinai:
come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
Posted by Fr. Aquinas on 17 Dec 2008 | Tagged as: Liturgical Feasts
Today the Church’s Advent prayer takes a sharp turn toward Christmas. The texts of the Divine Office and Mass now point us specifically to the mystery of the Nativity. The Gospel readings we’ll hear over the next week are especially worth noting in this regard. Listen well to them. Pray with them. Allow them to gather you with Mary and Joseph while on their way to Bethlehem.
Every year around this time, the Church’s “O Antiphons” receive a lot of attention. We began using them this evening. Include these too in your prayer. Each calls out to Christ with one of his Messianic titles. All together they summarize the content of Israel’s waiting and the wonders wrought by Christ’s birth.
For a brief history and listing of the O Antiphons, click here.
In 2006, the student brothers of the English province recorded their singing of the O Antiphons to the traditional Dominican tones. Over the next week, I’ll post each of their videos on the appropriate day. First up, “O Sapientia.”
O Sapientia,
quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.