This time of year I always recall a wonderful homily given by a former pastor of ours, Fr. Richard Ley, anticipating the O Antiphons. These are the antiphons that begin on December 17th and continue through Christmas Eve. Fr. Ley, who is now retired and living in Florida, has a gift for preaching and it was clearly demonstrated as he described each of the antiphons that illustrate one of Christ's titles:
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| At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Phil 2:10 |
- O Sapientia -- O Wisdom
- O Adonai -- O Lord
- O Radix Jesse -- O Root of Jesse
- O Clavis David -- O Key of David
- O Oriens -- O Radiant Dawn
- O Rex Gentium -- O King of the Nations
- O Emmanuel -- O God with us
After giving a brief explanation of each of the antiphons, Father pointed out that if you read the first letters in reverse they spell out a latin phrase, ero cras, "I will...tomorrow." We cry out, "O come, O come, Emmanuel" in the last of the O Antiphons and Emmanuel, God with us, responds to our pleading, "I will...tomorrow."
On Christmas morning we kneel at the side of the manger welcoming the newborn king who entered time in history to accompany and save us, who is still present with us today in the Eucharist, and who will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. I plead for his grace and protection as the King of the Nations, the Prince of Peace.
On Christmas morning we kneel at the side of the manger welcoming the newborn king who entered time in history to accompany and save us, who is still present with us today in the Eucharist, and who will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. I plead for his grace and protection as the King of the Nations, the Prince of Peace.
As we approach the end of Advent and the coming "radiant dawn" of Christmas, let us praise Jesus in the O Antiphons with great love. He is, indeed, all wisdom, Our Lord and Savior, the root of all truth, the key to heaven, the King of all nations and God always with us. Come, Lord Jesus, come!
Fr. Ley is the greatest.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a32160436/andrea-bocelli-wife-veronica-berti-marriage/
ReplyDeleteI was afraid the back story wasn't pretty. I did a little research and didn't find the article you cite. Hopefully he and Veronica have repented and the first marriage was invalid and annulled. The flesh is, indeed, weak. I'm praying for their family today and sending my guardian angel to pray with all of theirs. Their music is such a gift to the world, but not nearly as important as obeying the laws of God.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the marriage was annulled, apparently Bocelli moved in with the 2nd wife almost immediately after divorcing his first wife. They had a child out of wedlock 2 years before they finally married and according to an interview with “People “ magazine, the secret to a good marriage for him is
ReplyDelete“in the bedroom “. Not very Catholic….
I have prayed the O Antiphons for many years. They help me focus on the approach of the Incarnation. Of course, they are the words to 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'. Beautiful.
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