Updated "O's"

It is perhaps my most popular as well as best received output on the 'blog. It is a chronical of the development of what meager writing skills I have. It is also a testament to my dedication to this form of social media.

Once again this infinitesimal corner of the universe presents its annual meditations on the "O" Antiphons. This yearly tradition presents each of the seven antiphons spoken or chanted just before the Magnificat in the Liturgy of the Hours/Daily Office. They are also used as the Gospel Acclamation at daily Masses, save for the one which falls on Sunday.

As I noted last year, one of the reflections I was using no longer has a link. Along with reflections by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, starting today I also am presenting a video series produced by the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado, CA along with my very own humble musings. The first two should be of tremendous value. Your mileage will vary on my thoughts.

As these have appear throughout the years, there have been additions and revisions. This is a series where I can actually document the evolution of these posts, as I have not deleted any of the previous ones I created. Much like this 'blog and its creator, they are still works in progress.

In any event, as we come into the final days of Advent, I hope these still are edifying for those who come across them. May they be a source of inspiration to complete your preparation for Christmas.

They begin to make their appearance later today.

 

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Genesis 49:2, 8-10

Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:  Juda, thee shall thy brethren praise: thy hands shall be on the necks of thy enemies: the sons of thy father shall bow down to thee. Juda is a lion's whelp: to the prey, my son, thou art gone up: resting thou hast couched as a lion, and as a lioness, who shall rouse him? The sceptre shall not be taken away from Juda, nor a ruler from his thigh, till he come that is to be sent, and he shall be the expectation of nations.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 72 (71):7; V. 72:2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

R. (J)ustice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

V. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice:

     To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

V. Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills justice.

    He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the children of the poor:

V. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till the moon be taken away.

    And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

V. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun.

    And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac. And Isaac begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren. And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar. And Phares begot Esron. And Esron begot Aram. And Aram begot Aminadab. And Aminadab begot Naasson. And Naasson begot Salmon.  And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab. And Booz begot Obed of Ruth. And Obed begot Jesse. And Jesse begot David the king. And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon. And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel. And Salathiel begot Zorobabel. And Zorobabel begot Abiud. And Abiud begot Eliacim. And Eliacim begot Azor. And Azor begot Sadoc. And Sadoc begot Achim. And Achim begot Eliud. And Eliud begot Eleazar. And Eleazar begot Mathan. And Mathan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations, from Abraham to David, are fourteen generations. And from David to the transmigration of Babylon, are fourteen generations: and from the transmigration of Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Third Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a

And lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel abiding in their tents by their tribes: and the spirit of God rushing upon him, He took up his parable and said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man hath said, whose eye ire stopped up:  The hearer of the words of God hath said, he that hath beheld the vision of the Almighty, he that falleth, and so his eyes are opened:  How beautiful are thy tabernacles, O Jacob, and thy tents, O Israel! As woody valleys, as watered gardens near the rivers, as tabernacles which the Lord hath pitched, as cedars by the waterside. Water shall flow out of his bucket, and his seed shall be in many waters. For Agag his king shall be removed, and his kingdom shall be taken awry. (H)erefore taking up his parable, again he said: Balaam the son of Beor hath said: The man whose eye is stopped up, hath said:  The hearer of the words of God hath said, who knoweth the doctrine of the Highest, and seeth the visions of the Almighty, who falling hath his eyes opened:  I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel:

Responsorial Psalm:   cf. Psalm 25:4b; V. 4b-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

R. (T)each me thy paths.

V. Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.

    Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;

V. Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that are from the                beginning of the world. According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness'          sake, O Lord.

V. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.

    He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 21:23-27

And when he was come into the temple, there came to him, as he was teaching, the chief priests and ancients of the people, saying: By what authority dost thou these things? and who hath given thee this authority? Jesus answering, said to them: I also will ask you one word, which if you shall tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:  If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet. And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Third Sunday of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Zephaniah 3:14-17

Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy enemies: the king of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt fear evil no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: Let not thy hands be weakened. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he will be joyful over thee in praise.

Responsorial Psalm:  Is 12:6; V. 2-3, 4, 5-6

R. Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee,       the Holy One of Israel.

V. Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not fear:

    O because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation.

    You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains:

V. And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name:

    make his works known among the people: remember that his name is high.

V. Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth in all the earth.

    Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee,      the Holy One of Israel.

Second Reading:  Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:10-18

And the people asked him, saying: What then shall we do? And he answering, said to them: He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do in like manner. And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? But he said to them: Do nothing more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers also asked him, saying: And what shall we do? And he said to them: Do violence to no man; neither calumniate any man; and be content with your pay. And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ; John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. And many other things exhorting, did he preach to the people.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint John Of The Cross, Priest And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 2:1-10a

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power; That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought; But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):30a; V. 37:3-4, 5-6, 30-31

R. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

V. Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its               riches.

     Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.

     And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

V. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment.

     The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 14:25-33

And there went great multitudes with him. And turning, he said to them:  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you having a mind to build a tower, doth not first sit down, and reckon the charges that are necessary, whether he have wherewithal to finish it:  Lest, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, Saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down, and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him? Or else, whilst the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace. So likewise every one of you that doth not renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be my disciple.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Lucy, Virgin And Martyr

First Reading:  Isaiah 48:17-19

Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in the way that thou walkest. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, And thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof: his name should not have perished, nor have been destroyed from before my face.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. John 8:12; V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (H)e that followeth me...shall have the light of life.

V. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

V. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters

    which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

    And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the          earth.

    For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:16-19

But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place. Who crying to their companions say: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have lamented, and you have not mourned. For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Is 40:25-31

And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy One? Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, not one of them was missing. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel: My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Knowest thou not, or hast thou not heard? the Lord is the everlasting God, who hath created the ends of the earth: he shall not faint, nor labour, neither is there any searching out of his wisdom. It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force and might to them that are not. Youths shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1; V. 1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

R. Bless the Lord, O my soul

V. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on        praise and beauty:

    And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a pavilion:

V. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot:             who walkest upon the wings of the winds.

     Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.

V. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place which thou hast founded for         them.

     Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Second Week Of Advent (Year I)

First Reading:  Isaiah 40:1-11

Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass:  The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of our Lord endureth for ever. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God:  Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.

Responsorial Psalm: cf. Isaiah 40:10; V. Psalm 96 (95):1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13

R. Behold the Lord God shall come with strength

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation from day to day.

V. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

    Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. he will judge the people with justice.

V. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea be moved, and the fulness        thereof:

    The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the          woods rejoice

V. Before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge the earth.

    He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with his truth. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 18:12-14

What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? And if it so be that he find it:  Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Second Sunday Of Advent (Year C)

First Reading:  Baruch 5:1-9

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God. God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven. For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God. For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom. For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 126 (125):3; V. 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7.

R. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted.

     Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy.

V. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them.

     The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful.

V. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south.

    They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

V. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

     But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.  

Second Reading:  Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Always in all my prayers making supplication for you all, with joy; For your communication in the gospel of Christ from the first day until now. Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus. For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:  That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ, Filled with the fruit of justice, through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:1-6

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina; Under the high priests Annas and Caiphas; the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins; As it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Ambrose, Bishop And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  Ephesians 3:8-12

To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ, And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:  That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church, According to the eternal purpose, which he made, in Christ Jesus our Lord:  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Ps 89 (88):2; V. 2-3, 4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27

R. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever.

V. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

     For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them.

V.  I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:

     Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne unto generation and generation.

V. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him.

    For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him.

V. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

    He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation. 

Gospel Reading:  John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep:  And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.