O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. God is with us. Infinity invisible: He is asleep in the dark waters of a virgin’s womb, so small that His presence is only given away by a swelling belly. So quiet, so still:Continue reading “Silent Light: O Emmanuel”
Tag Archives: Advent
Dancing in Prison: O King of Nations
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. If there were any two who understood that Jesus is “the only joy of every human heart,” it was the Blessed Virgin and JohnContinue reading “Dancing in Prison: O King of Nations”
Spiritual Canticle in Irregular Verse: O Radiant Dawn
Out of the darkness of this life the wasteland held captive by gloom’s shadow where there dwell frustrated hopes and dreams dashed against flint the unwearied Father places upon the weary dust the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. The small white Sun ablaze with love whose radiant joy springs overContinue reading “Spiritual Canticle in Irregular Verse: O Radiant Dawn”
Wreck My Life: O Key of David
O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. Today’s antiphon reminds me of the bridge to the popular worship song,Continue reading “Wreck My Life: O Key of David”
Beauty Incarnate: Flower of Jesse
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, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. You are made for beauty. You are created to experience that thrill when you seeContinue reading “Beauty Incarnate: Flower of Jesse”
Our Lady and the Burning Bush: O Adonai
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. We worship a God who turns water to blood and sweeps sea from land. He is so close that He knowsContinue reading “Our Lady and the Burning Bush: O Adonai”
Merciful Wisdom: Introduction to the O Antiphons + O Wisdom
O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet gentle care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. A favorite Christmas memory in our house is when my younger sister was about four and we were opening gifts on Christmas Eve. Surrounded by fun cousins and fueledContinue reading “Merciful Wisdom: Introduction to the O Antiphons + O Wisdom”
The Father’s Advent
My heart sunk as the door remained as rigid as ever. I was standing outside of University of Cincinnati’s Parish Newman Center where I had been told Confession was available. But the doors were locked and my brain was transported for a moment back to this past Spring when all churches were closed. I triedContinue reading “The Father’s Advent”
On Eponine and Advent
“To love another person is to see the face of God.” It’s perhaps the most famous line from the musical, Les Miserables, a production which is not only my favorite Broadway musical, but the last thing that I would see performed in a theater before the world shut down. What a gift it was toContinue reading “On Eponine and Advent”
The Legend of Simeon and the Longing of 2020
Long ago, several centuries before the “Gloria” of the angels pierced the Bethlehem sky, 72 scholars were asked to translate the books that would later be known as the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek. After years of scrupulous independent translation, the scholars gathered to share the fruit of their labors. It was here, accordingContinue reading “The Legend of Simeon and the Longing of 2020”
Living Full Throttle 