ANTIPHONS:
CHRISTMAS;
MARY,
MOTHER
of
GOD;
EPIPHANY
Illuminated Missal
Epiphany: Ecce advenit.
FROM
CHRISTMAS
to EPIPHANY
and
BEYOND
Before Dawn;
Wondrous
Exchange;
Today, are held the Nuptials;
Three
Wonders
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Illuminated Missal |
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CHRISTMAS
DAY
ANTIPHON:
Christ is the Bridegroom
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Wilfrid Weitz, OSB, Christmas Day Benedictus Antiphon
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MARY
MOTHER
of
GOD
ANTIPHON:
We are Sharers in the Divinity of
Christ
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Wilfrid Weitz, OSB, Mary Mother of God, Antiphon 2
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EPIPHANY
ANTIPHON:
The Wedding Feast of The Church
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Wilfrid Weitz, OSB, Epiphany Benedictus Antiphon
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RORATE
CÆLI
HYMN
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FROM THE PROPHET ISAIAH[44] 24 THUS says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the earth […] who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; 27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry, I will dry up your rivers’; 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” [45] THUS says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and ungird the loins of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 2 “I will go before you and level the mountains […] I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me, 6 that all may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the LORD, who do all these things.” 8 “SHOWER , O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up also; I the LORD have created it.”
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THE
GREAT
“O” ANTIPHONS
The “Great Antiphons,” or “O Antiphons”, are sung at the Magnificat at Vespers, and may be used as the Alleluia verse at mass, one each day, from December 17 to 23. Each Antiphon invokes the coming Messiah, employing one of His many biblical titles, and closes with a proper petition. The authors are unknown. They date from the ninth century or earlier; and have been deliberately arranged so that the first letter of each title, viewed as it were from Christmas Eve, spell out the phrase: Ero Cras – I come tomorrow!
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Antiphonæ Majores ad Magnificat, Die 17 Decembris. Antiphonale Monasticum (Paris, 1934) p. 208
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DECEMBER |
17 |
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O SAPIENTIA, quae ex ore Altissimi prodisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. |
O Wisdom, You who proceed from the mouth of the Most High, reaching out from end to end, strongly and gently arranging all things: come to teach us the way of prudence. |
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DECEMBER |
18 |
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O ADONAI, et dux domus Israël, qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. |
O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and on Sinai gave him the law, come to redeem us with outstretched arm. |
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DECEMBER |
19 |
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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 Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign for the people, before whom kings remain silent, whom the nations will worship: come to set us free, do not delay. |
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DECEMBER |
20 |
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O CLAVIS DAVID, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. |
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from the house of imprisonment. sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. |
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DECEMBER |
21 |
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O ORIENS, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. |
O Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine, on those sitting in darkness, and the shadow of death. |
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DECEMBER |
22 |
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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 the one they desired, cornerstone, who makes both one, come and save mankind, whom you formed from the mud. |
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DECEMBER |
23 |
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O EMMANUEL, Rex et legifer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. |
O Emmanuel, Our king and bearer of the law The gentiles’ expectation, and their Savior: come to save us, Our Lord God. |
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O Sapientia - Dec. 17
O Sapientia: (Wisdom) came out of the mouth of the Most High (Ecclus. 24, 5). attingens: “She (Wisdom) reacheth therefore from end to end mightily, and ordereth all things sweetly” (Wis. 8, 1). a fine usque ad finem: everywhere (Wis 7 94)
O Adonai Dec. 18
Adonai: a Hebrew name for God, usually translated in the Old Testament by the word “Lord.” domus Israel: the house of Israel, the Israelites. in igne flammoe rubi: condensed from Ex. 3, 2: ‑Apparuitque el Dominus in flamma ignis de medio rubi. And the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. in Sina legem dedisti: The giving of the Law on Sinai is recorded in Ex. 19 ff. The arm is a symbol of strength, might, power; and an outstretched arm is a powerful, helping arm. Cf. Deut. 26, 8, 3 Kings 3, 42; Jer. 27, 8.
O Radix Jesse Dec. 19
Radix: a descendant, offspring. Jesse: the father of David.. “In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech” (Is. 11, 10). Cf. also Rom. 15, 12. in signum populorum: an allusion to the ensign or standard of the Cross around which the converted Gentiles would in time rally; in here denotes purpose. super quem: “Kings shall shut their mouths at (in presence of) him” (Is. 52, 15). The kings of the nations, moved by respect and admiration, shall be silent in His presence.
O Clavis David - Dec. 20
Clavis David: “Thus says the holy one, the true one, he who has the key of David; he who opens and no man shuts, and who shuts and no man opens” (Apoc. 3, 7; Cf. Is. 22, 22). A key is a symbol of power, and Christ, who was of the house of David, possessed the supreme power. He could open heaven or close it. And in the Church He gave to St. Peter “the keys of the kingdom of heaven,” the power of binding and loosing in His naine (Matt. 16, 19). sceptrum: fig., land, kingdom. “Israel is the scepter of his inheritance‑ (Jer. 51, 19).
O Oriens - Dec 21
Oriens: the term is used of the rising of the sun or of any heavenly body; here the Sun is Christ. It is one of the many Scriptural titles of the Messias, the Light of the world (John 8, 12), the Sun of justice (Mal. 4, 2), the Orient (Daybreak, Dayspring) from on high that visited us (Luke 1, 78), the bright Morning Star (Apoc. 22, 16), the Light of the Gentiles (Is. 49, 6), the Brightness or Effulgence of the Father’s glory (Heb. 1, 3). illumina: “To shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1, 79).
O Rex Gentium Dec. 22
Rex gentium: “He who shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope” (Rom. 15, 12, in which St. Paul quotes Is. 11, 10). desideratus: lit., the desired one. “And the Desired of all nations shall come” (Hag. 2, 8). lapis angularis: “You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with jesus Christ himself as the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2, 20). qui facis utraque unum: Christ is our peacemaker who has broken down the partition wall and made jews and Gentiles one in the Church (Eph. 2, 14). In the Church there is no distinction of race.
O Emmanuel Dec 23
Emmanuel: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son; and they shall call his name Emmanuel; which is, interpreted, ‘God with us’“ (Matt. 1, 23).
PUER
NATUS
EST
(A Child is born for us)
INTROIT
(Entrance Antiphon)
for
the
MASS
of CHRISTMAS
DAY
A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: Whose government is upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel. (Isaiah 9:6)
u-er
na-tus
est no-bis,
et
fi-lius
da-tus
est no-bis,
A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us:
cu-ius impé-ri-um su-per hú-me-rum e - jus
Whose
government is upon His shoulder:
et vo-cá-bi-tur nomen
ei- us, magni
consí-li-i An-ge-lus.
and His
Name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel.
V/. Cantate Domino canticum novum quia
mirabilia fecit. (
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He
has done wonderful things
THEMES
1.
GOD
AS
CHILD
AND
SON:
THE
GIFT
of
DIVINE
FILIATION
CHILD: יֶלֶד (yeled); παιδίον (paidion); Puer
SON: בֵּן (bēn); υἱὸς (huios); Filius
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Gherarducci, Puer Natus est (1395) |
CHILD
–
vulnerability – dependence on community
SON – hope for future; One Who will carry on. “I
will not be the last”
Lumen Fidei §51 “journey towards a future of hope”
§52 Faith and the family and what is symbolizes (as sign of hope)
“The movement of love between Father, Son and Spirit runs through our history, and Christ draws us to himself in order to save us (cf. Jn 12:32). At the centre of our faith is the confession of Jesus, the Son of God, born of a woman, who brings us, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, to adoption as sons and daughters (cf. Gal 4:4). [in other words, the titles of child and son are ours, as well!
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| BUT when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Gal.4:4-6) | ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενόμενον ὑπὸ νόμον, 5 ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν. 6 Ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν κρᾶζον· αββα ὁ πατήρ. 7 ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ. |
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2.
GOD
AS
RULER:
HUMANITY
AS
STEWARD
GOVERNMENT: מִשְׂרָה (misrā); ἀρχὴ (archē); Imperium
STEWARD / GARDINER
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Medieval Illum Jewish Psalter: Psalm 1, Ashre! |
DOMINION of GOD - STEWARDSHIP of HUMANITY
Genesis Laudato Si and Theology of Body
Laudato Si,§62 ff.: To “work” and “keep/guard” the Garden (Gen 2:15)
Pope Francis encouraged us to read Dante's Divine Comedy, especially during the Year of Mercy
The Garden as Dante's Image of restored Heaven
PRAYER
and CONTEMPLATION
RECREATE
THE
GARDEN
in OUR
HEARTS
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Medieval Illum Jewish Psalter: Psalm 1, Ashre! |
3.
GOD
AS
GOSPEL:
HUMAN
FAITH
in
THE
GOOD
NEWS
MESSENGER: [פִּלְאִי (pil’î) wonderful]; ἄγγελος (angelos); Angelus
GOSPEL: εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion); GOOD NEWS
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Andrei Rubilev, The Blessed Trinity (c.1425) |
THE
GOOD
NEWS
of
DIVINE
LOVE
WE
ARE
THE
HERALDS
of
DIVINE
COMPASSION
Fundamental Problem: We have a predisposition to believe that God is grasping, exacting, “Jealous of His prerogatives.”
In our moral exhortation we sometimes act as if we are afraid that if grace is [excessively] preached, sin will abound: Paul’s ancient question:
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| WHAT shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) | Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν; ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ; |
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Pope Francis - MISERICORDIA et MISERA (Mercy [with those in] Misery)
Rorate Coeli: consolamini, consolamini, populus meus...(Is 40:1)
We can become a people who bless Pope FRANCIS: A People Who Bless
4.
GOD
AS
WISDOM:
EVANGELIZATION
AS
ADVOCACY
AND
PARTNERSHIP
COUNSELOR: יוֹעֵץ (yō‘ēs) ; βουλή (boulē); Counsilium
ADVOCATE: παράκλητος (paraklētos); HELPER
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Duccio, Siena Maesta: Emmaus (1310) |
COUNSEL / PRUDENCE / WISDOM
– How and when to communicate
– Companioning, walking with; learning language, inculturation
Evagelium Gaudii on Proclaiming Gospel (esp.§ 259-266)
Amoris Laetitia (nav) on Companionship with People of God on Journey
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Duccio, Siena Maesta: The Healing of the Blind Man (1310) |
WE
GO
TOGETHER
TO
GOD
The Rule of
Benedict,
ch. 72
ENGLISH
HYMNS
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COMFORT,
COMFORT
YE
MY
PEOPLE
COME,
MY
WAY,
MY
TRUTH,
MY
LIFE
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THE
GRADUALE
TRIPLEX
NEUMES
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“Cum ortus fuerit sol de Caelo, videbitis Regem regum procedentem a Patre, tanquam sponsum de thalamo suo.”
The text is apparently a Christian adaptation of Psalm 19: 4-5: “In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.”
O WHAT A WONDROUS EXCHANGE
O admirabile commercium!
Creator generis humani,
animatum corpus sumens,
de Virgine nasci dignatus est:
et procedens homo sine semine,
largitus est nobis suam Deitatem.
O admirable exchange:
the creator of human-kind,
taking on a living body
was worthy to be born of a virgin,
and, coming forth as a human without seed,
has given us his deity in abundance.
O wonderful gift:
the creator of the human race,
taking our flesh upon him,
deigns to be born of a virgin;
and, coming forth without seed of man,
bestows his Divinity upon us.
EPIPHANY:
"Today the Church hath been joined to her heavenly Spouse, for Christ hath washed away her sins in the Jordan; the Magi hasten with gifts to the royal nuptials, and the guests are gladdened with wine made from water, alleluia."
-- Antiphon for the Benedictus, Lauds
Hodie caelesti sponso juncta est ecclesia quoniam in Jordane lavit Christus ejus crimina currunt cum muneribus magi ad regales nuptias et ex aqua facto vino laetantur convivae alleluia
2Vesp Magn Ant: Tribus miraculis ornatum diem
"We celebrate a holy day adorned with three mysteries: this day the star led the Magi to the manger; this day wine was made from water at the wedding; this day Christ willed to be baptized in the Jordan by John in order to save us, alleluia."
-- Antiphon for the Magnificat, Second Vespers
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