Advent Wreath--First Week Of Advent

 

Lighting The Way

The calendars turn, both the secular and sacred.

As we begin a new month we also begin a new liturgical year. Deriving from the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. Andrew, the first Apostle called, we are now called to "prepare the way of the Lord".

Leaving a month in which we recall the Four Last Things and pray for those "marked with the sign of Faith" and those who faith is known only by God, we now enter the season of Advent, where we will count the days until the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated.

We heed the words of St. John the Baptist. While our preparation is not as severe as Lent, it still is a time of penitence. We hear the longing in our hearts for redemption, much as the world did some two millennia ago. Then as now, how we reply and respond is critical. Will we recognize the Christ Child like the shepherd and Magi or just go on what we think is our "merry" way?

As we get ready materially, so also spiritually. Make the time in the hustle and bustle of December to be still, to reflect upon the beginning of the penultimate chapter of  "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Deck the halls, trim the tree, light the candles of the Advent wreath, erect the Creche. Make ready the gifts, not only those we give to others, but also what we can (and should) give to Him.

Yes, the darkness of this time of the year increases.

The four tapers await you.

As well as the Light of the World.

Mediation For Advent

Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

To be recited 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew's (November 30) until Christmas.

(Fedora Doff to Drew at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping.)

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Originally posted 12/1/2005.
Re-posted 11/29/2008.
Re-posted 11/28/2009.

Re-posted 11/27/2010.
Re-posted 11/26/2011.
Re-posted 12/2/2012.
Re-posted 11/30/2013.
Re-posted 11/29/2014.
Re-posted 11/28/2015.
Re-posted 11/30/2016.
Re-posted 11/30/2017.
Re-posted 11/30/2018.

Re-posted 11/30/2019.

Re-posted 11/30/2020.

Re-posted 11/30/2021.

Re-posted 11/30/2022.

Re-posted 11/30/2023.

2024 Thanksgiving Day Card

May your Thanksgiving Day be full of love and laughter. May it be a time of being truly grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon you. May you see an even more abundance of blessings in the time to come

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

Royal Hymn

In honor of the Feast of Christ the King, I present excerpts of the hymn Christus Vincit as it was chanted at the 2010 CMAA Winter Chant Intensive. (In case you want to know what I look like, I am the first one in the front pew with the rest of the men.)

The text and translation is courtesy of The Parish Book of Chant.

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Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!

Exaudi, Christe.

Benedicto, Summo Pontifici, in unum populos doctrina congreganti caritate: Pastori gratia gregi obsequentia.

Salvator mundi, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancta Maria, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Petre, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Paule, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Benedicte, Tu illum adjuva.

Rex regum! Rex noster! Spes nostra! Gloria nostra!

Magistratibus et omnibus concivibus nobiscum orantibus: cordis vera quies votorum effctus.

Auxilium christianorum, Tu illos adjuva.
Sancte Michael, Tu illos adjuva.
Sancte Benedicte, Tu illos adjuva.

Ipsi soli imperium, laus et jubilatio per infinita saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Tempora bona habeant! Tempora bona habeant redempti Sanguine Christi.

Feliciter!

Pax Christi veniat! Regnum Christi veniat! Deo Gratias! Amen.

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Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!

Give ear, O Christ!

To the Supreme Pontiff [Benedict], who gathereth into one all peoples through doctrine, in charity: let there be dignity for our Shepherd, and obedience for his flock.

O Saviour of the world, grant him assistance.
Holy Mary,...
Holy Peter,...
Holy Paul,...
Holy Benedict,...

King of Kings! Our King! Our hope! Our glory!

To the magistrates and all fellow citizens praying with us: let the effect of their devotions be true rest for the heart.

O help of Christians, grant them assistance.
Holy Michael,...
Holy Benedict,...

Let all power, praise, and jubilation be to Him alone, through endless ages to ages. Amen.

May they have prosperous times! May they have prosperous times by the redemptive Blood of Christ!

Joyously!

Let the Peace of Christ come! Let the Reign of Christ come! Thanks be to God! Amen.

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Originally posted 11/20/2011.
Re-posted 11/25/2012.
Re-posted 11/23/2014.
Re-posted 11/22/2015.
Re-posted 11/20/2016.
Re-posted 11/26/2017.
Re-posted 11/25/2018.

Re-posted 11/24/2019.

Re-posted 11/22/2020.

Re-posted 11/21/2021.

Re-posted 11/20/2022.

Re-posted 11/26/2023.

With Royal Diadem

The original text was written by Matthew Brown in 1851 and altered by Godfrey Thring twenty years later. The tune, DIADMATA, was composed by George Elvey. This is a somewhat all encompassing representation of the many titles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

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1. Crown Him with many crowns,

The Lamb upon His throne;

Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns

All music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing

Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King

Through all eternity.

2. Crown Him the Virgin’s Son,

The God Incarnate born,

Whose arm those crimson trophies won

Which now His brow adorn:

Fruit of the mystic Tree,

As of that Tree the Stem;

The Root whence flows Thy mercy free,

The Babe of Bethlehem.

3. Crown Him the Lord of Love:

Behold His hands and side;

Rich wounds yet visible above

In beauty glorified:

No angel in the sky

Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his burning eye

At mysteries so bright.

4. Crown Him the Lord of peace,

Whose power a scepter sways

From pole to pole, that wars may cease,

And all be prayer and praise.

His reign shall know no end,

And round His pierced feet

Fair flowers of glory now extend

Their fragrance ever sweet.

5. Crown Him the Lord of years,

The Potentate of time.

Creator of the rolling spheres,

Ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail!

For Thou hast died for me;

Thy praise shall never, never fail

Throughout eternity.

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Originally posted 11/26/2023.

With Full Heart And Voice

Anther gem from the pen of Charles Wesley. The tune was composed by John Darwall. Although more appropriate for Ascension, this is another fitting tribute to close the liturgical year.

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Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Christus Rex

1. To Jesus Christ, our Sov'reign King,
Who is the world's salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.

Refrain:  Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!

2. Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev'ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation.

(Refrain)

3. To Thee and to Thy Church, great King,
We pledge our hearts' oblation,
Until before Thy throne we sing,
In endless jubilation.

(Refrain)

From the 2 Hearts Network, here is a link to prayers specifically about our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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Originally posted 11/25/2007.
Re-posted 11/21/2010.
Re-posted 11/25/2012.
Re-posted 11/24/2013.
Re-posted 11/23/2014.
Re-posted 11/22/2015.
Re-posted 11/20/2016.
Re-posted 11/26/2017.
Re-posted 11/25/2018.

Re-posted 11/24/2019.

Re-posted 11/22/2020.

Re-posted 11/21/2021.

Re-posted 11/20/2022.

Re-posted 11/26/2023.

Another Musical Saint

As today is the Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr and patron saint of musicians, I thought it would be appropriate to introduce you to another female saint who also made a significant contribution to the treasury of sacred music.

St. Hildegard of Binden (c. 1098-1176) was a Benedictine abbess and polymath. Her contributions in many other fields, both sacred and secular, lead to her becoming the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012. A truly remarkable woman, no matter in what time she may have lived.

Enjoy this presentation of her chant.

November 2024 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For Anyone Who Has Lost A Child. We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.

(UPDATE:  11/30/23) A reflection for this intention can be found here.