O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Today we call on Jesus as the “Key of David”. Jesus is the key that opens our eyes, that have been obscured by our human […]
Christmas Novena. Day 4, 19th December
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. In today’s antiphon we invoke Christ as the “root of Jesse”. A root recalls the foundations without which, life can not exist. It is the same too for us with reference […]
Christmas Novena. Day 3, 18th December
O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et in Sinai legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. We have exclaimed the Lord’s name, “O Adonai” or “O Lord”. This invocation is very beautiful. The citation of “O Adonai” at the start of this antiphon is amazing. […]
Christmas Novena. Day 2, 17th December
O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ. O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet gentle care. Come and show your people the way of prudence. In our prayer today, we invoke the […]
Third Sunday of Advent
The third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete” or rejoice Sunday and it takes its name from St Paul’s invite in the second reading to “Rejoice always” (1 Thess 5:16) As we draw closer to the coming of the Lord, we have a reason to be filled with joy. The Church shows her joy by […]
Christmas Novena. Day 1, 16th December
Ecce Rex veniet Dominus terræ, et ipse auferet jugum captivitatis nostræ. Behold, the King will come, the Lord of the earth, and He will remove from us the yoke of our captivity. On the first day of Novena, the Lord is celebrated as King. He came to earth to establish the kingdom of the Father […]
Introduction to the Christmas Novena
Introduction to the Christmas Novena and the O Antiphons How can one explain the greatest, most singular event in human history? How can the extraordinary event of God becoming man in a Child be described? How do we account for the fact that God revealed His love in Jesus Christ? The Advent Liturgy invites us […]
Second Sunday of Advent
The Gospel of the second Sunday of Advent takes the text from the Prophet Isaiah which spoke of, “A voice of one crying out in the desert,” to refer to the mission of St John the Baptist. He prepared his people for the coming of the Messiah by preaching a baptism of conversion for the […]
Advent: Preparing for the coming of the Lord
Each year, on the 1st Sunday of Advent, the Church heralds the start of a new year. A new year is often a time of ‘resolutions’, ‘new start’ or even renewal. The Church’s year is no different! As the Lord prepared Israel for the coming of the Messiah over the course of 4,000 years, it […]
Novena to the Immaculate Conception. Day 9 Pray for us to the Lord Jesus Christ
Tota Pulchra Tota pulchra es Maria, et macula originalis non es in te. Tu gloria Ierusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri, tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria! O Maria! Virgo prudentissima, Mater clementissima, ora pro nobis, intercede pro nobis, ad Dominum Iesum Christum. You are all beautiful, Mary, and the stain of original sin […]