Life and Stuff

I haven't posted in over a week, and yet I'm still getting lots of views every day.  Wow.  That makes me feel a bit guilty.

So, this is just your regular I've-been-super-busy-blah-blah kind of post, I'm afraid.  I've been finding schoolwork rather overwhelming and so haven't had the mental energy or creativity to write up any posts.  Also, IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS.  HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?  It feels like Advent should still have like three weeks left.  Despite the nearness of Christmas, let us not forget that it's still Advent, and thus still a penitential season.  It's not time for cookies and carols quite yet, but don't worry - we Catholics have over a month in which to sing and eat sweets, because Christmas technically doesn't end until February 2nd.  (And yes, I do use that as an excuse to eat extra dessert during that time.)  Also, just want to remind y'all that the O Antiphons started today.  Last year I made little graphics for each day and posted them here.  I'm reminding you because I've gained many more followers since then, and I was rather proud of my O Antiphons and thus want everyone to see them. :)  (Speaking of followers, a warm welcome to my new ones! I'm amazed that so many people will follow such an inconstant blogger.)

In other news, I might be getting to see The Hobbit this week, so I'll hopefully write a review-ish thing of that.  Hopefully.  I can't wait.

Well, happy Gaudete Sunday to you all!  I'll be remembering you all at Mass next week as a peace offering for being a bad blogger.

The O Antiphons - O Emmanuel

English translation: O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Hope and Salvation of the nations! Come and save us, O Lord our God.


This is the last O Antiphon.  I hope you enjoyed learning about these beautiful prayers for the week before Christmas!  (Oh, and sorry I couldn't find a better image of the Infant Jesus.  Everything was so cutesy-pie...)

Now for all the "acknowledgements".  I made the posters on Picnik with images from Google Images.  The Latin translations of the antiphons are from Fish Eaters and the English translations are from TIA.  

 May you all have a blessed Christmas!

The O Antiphons - O Rex Gentium

English translation:  O King of the Gentile, the Awaited One of all! Thou are the cornerstone that binds two into one. Come, and save man whom Thou fashioned out of clay.

The O Antiphons - O Oriens

I'm ever so sorry that I didn't get this up yesterday!  You see, I was quite sick, and posting antiphon posters was the last thing I was thinking about.  (I was too busy moaning internally about how my throat hurt.  I always did feel for Mary Musgrove from Persuasion - sometimes I too feel that "my sore throats are always worse than anybody's".)

Ahem.  Where were we? Oh yes -  O Oriens.

English translation: O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice! Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The O Antiphons - O Clavis David

click to enlarge

English translation:  O Key of David, Scepter of the House of Israel! Thou doth open and no man closes; Thou doth close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The O Antiphons - O Radix Jesse

I almost completely forgot about today's antiphon!  So sorry, dear readers.
Today is O Root of Jesse.  

English translation: O Root of Jesse! Thou stand as a sign for all peoples; before Thee kings shall keep silence and to Thee all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.

The O Antiphons - O Adonai

English translation: O Adonai, Ruler of the House of Israel! Thou appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him Thy law. Come to redeem us with the strength of Thy arm.

The O Antiphons - Explanation and O Sapientia

I was so very determined to post about this little-remembered part of Advent, and I still completely forgot until today.  I guess the phrase "little-remembered" is all too apt for my own good.


First let me explain a little about the O Antiphons, also called the Greater Antiphons or Major Antiphons.  Antiphons are short prayers from Vespers, and the "greatest" of them are the antiphons for the octave before Christmas Eve - in other words, they start on the 17th of December and end on the 23rd.  They all being with "O" (hence the name), and they each address Our Lord by a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Micheas and Isaias.  Even if you've never heard of them, they should sound a bit familiar: the verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel are based on them.

The titles form an acrostic which, read backward, form the Latin words "Ero Cras", which means "Tomorrow I Come":

Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium

Emmanuel

Isn't that cool?

Now.  Yesterday's antiphon was "O Sapientia":

Click to enlarge

English translation:  O Wisdom! Thou came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, Thou ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Come, and teach us the way of prudence.