Christmas Eve Services - A Contrast of Styles

Well another Christmas Eve has come and gone.  Last night I was lobbying to attend three Christmas Eve Services and in the end lost to my family and we compromised and attended two services.

The first service was at 7:00 PM at Sunset Hills Baptist Church, our home congregation.  The services at SSH have been for many years now contemporary in nature and is definitely what one would categorize as "low church".  With nearly or no liturgical qualities to be found in the service and certainly none in the Christmas Eve service.  It was a very nice service with a heavy emphasis on congregational singing (a very 'Baptist' thing to do) and some readings.  It was a candle light service which is always a stable of Christmas Eve Services at SSH.  

After the service we went home and had some supper and waited to head out to attend the Midnight Mass at Saint Cecilia Cathedral.  We arrived there about 11:30 PM and took in the last half of the Organ & Choral Prelude.  The music at St. Cecilia's is always breathtaking and awe inspiring.  The acoustics of the Cathedral are remarkable and especially when hearing songs sung in Latin one cannot help but feel transported to a location just this side of Heaven itself.

I always love taking in the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Saint Cecilia, the building is beyond beautiful and there is such an air of reverence throughout the service that you can't help but be move by it all.  I have included several photos of Saint Cecilia but trust me no photo can ever do justice to the beauty and grander of this remarkable building.  It is interesting to note that when the building was completed in 1959 it was one of the ten largest Cathedrals in the United States.

Gail and I visited about the contrast in the two services that we experienced last evening and we both agreed that especially on Christmas Eve at least some form of litany seems called for.  As we age we find ourselves enjoying more and more a traditional service as opposed to the more contemporary 'low' church services that seem to be so common anymore.   This is especially true for Gail, I'm a bit more lenient and flexible and I generally find some edification in nearly any style of worship.

I look forward to next Christmas Eve already and hopefully we'll be able to take in the Midnight Mass again.  It's hard to know what the next year will bring and I wonder if by next Christmas we will have found a Pulpit from which to serve.  If not I hope to be able to convince my little tribe to go along with taking in three services again.  It's always interesting to experience new churches and to witness the different ways of worshiping and revering God Almighty.

I hope this Christmas day finds all who are reading this blog post safe, healthy, happy and sensing the true meaning of this wonderful day.  This time of year we celebrate the coming into this world of the Lord Jesus who is the Christ.  Let us focus on being a small part of Christ himself, let us be his spirit in this world.

May you all be blessed in the coming year and let us all step out in faith and work to serve the Lord  Jesus who is the Christ in all that we feel driven to do on his behalf.

In his abundant Grace and Glory,
Roy

7th Day of the 'O Antiphons' - 'O Emmanuel' or 'O God With Us'

Today is the 7th and final day of the short prayers known as the 'O Antiphons', today is 'O Emmanuel' or 'O God With Us'.  Truly through our faith in Christ as having coming into this world to show us the way to the Father, we genuinely have 'God With Us'.  But as I challenged you before, and as I challenge myself continually... do we honestly behave as though not only is 'God is With Us' but are 'We With God'?  Let us redouble our efforts to live a life which is 'Christ-Like' in as many ways as is humanly possible.  Let Christ into your heart and pray that he will employ you as one of his many agents in this world.  Praise God, for he is with us today!

In His Glory & Grace,
Roy

O Emmanuel (O God With Us)

Latin:

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

English:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

To hear this prayer in Latin either cut & paste this link into your browser or highlight and right click 'go to'.

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/emmanuel.mp3

Here are two more interesting notes about these 'O Antiphons'.

The first is not apparent in English, but it can be seen clearly in the official language of the Roman Catholic Church: Latin. The Latin versions of each of the titles of the Messiah are: Sapientia (Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix (Root), Clavis (Key), Oriens (Dawn), Rex (King), and Emmanuel(Emmanuel).  Take the first letters of each of the titles, starting with the last and working back to the first. You spell: EROCRAS or "ero cras... I will be (there) tomorrow".

The song "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is simply a reworking of the seven O Antiphons. When you sing it, you are joining yourself to a vast throng of Christians stretching back across centuries and spanning the whole of the earth who prayed as all Christians do, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

'Virgin & Child'
by: William Adolphe Bouguereau
My favorite rendition of the Christ Child, not because it is historically accurate, (this is certainly not a Jewish child) but because it is a baby with a face of authority that still looks like a child's face and not an adult face. A truly remarkable accomplishment by Bouguereau.

Day 6 of the 'O Antiphons' - 'O Rex Gentium' (O King of All Nations)

 Welcome Your King!

Today is day 6 of the short prayers known as the 'O Antiphons'.  Today is 'O Rex Gentium' or 'O King of All Nations', also translated as 'O King of the Gentiles'.  Christ came into this world to rule not as one lording over us but as one who is to rule in our hearts, minds and actions.  As we go through this Holy Holiday season let us all focus on allowing Christ to truly rule in all our transactions and interactions with God's children and creation.  Let us further resolve to bring this Christ-like interaction into the new year and to carry it forward for the remainder of our days here on Earth.  For Christ came into this world many long years ago, let us be determined to allow him fully into our own world today.

Many Blessings to you all as we go through this season of joy and reflection on our mutual Savior, Jesus who is the Christ.

In His Grace & Love,

Roy

O Rex Gentium (O King of All Nations)

Latin:

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,

lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:

veni, et salva hominem,

quem de limo formasti.

English:

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

Isaiah 9:7
His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 

Isaiah 2:4
And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war.

To hear this prayer in Latin either cut and paste this link into your browser or highlight and right click on 'go to':

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/rexgentium.mp3

5th Day of the 'O Antiphons' - 'O Oriens' or 'O Randiant Dawn'

Today is the 5th day of the series of short prayers known as the 'O Antiphons'.  Today the prayer is focused on the attribute of Christ as the 'new light'.  'O Radiant Dawn', often this is translated as 'O Morning Star' due to it's more poetic nature however a more literal translation should be 'O Rising Sun', or 'O Radiant Dawn'.  It is important to look at the newness, the washing away of the darkness.  For as the light of Christ enters (dawns) into our lives the darkness is washed away and we are left in the radiance of his Holy Light.

'O Oriens' (O Radiant Dawn)

Latin:

O Oriens,

splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:

veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

To hear this prayer in Latin please either cut & paste this link into your browser or highlight and right click on 'go to'.

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/oriens.mp3

Isaiah 9:2-7

New International Version (NIV)

² The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
³ You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
⁴ For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
⁵ Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Isaiah 60:2

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
² See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Malachi 4:2

New International Version (NIV)

² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.

As we go into our final preparations for this Christmas season may you truly feel the 'Light' of the Christ Child 'Dawning Radiantly' in your hearts.

Be His Light into this dark world.

In his Light and Grace,

Roy

Day 4 - O Antiphons, "O Key of David"

Today is the 4th day of the short prayers known as the 'O Antiphons'.  Today is the prayer known as the 'O Clavis David' or 'O Key of David'.  Jesus of the house of David has come as the key to set us all free from our sinful human bondage.  May you feel yourself drawing nearer and nearer to Christ as we progress closer and closer to our celebration of his birth into this world.

O Clavis David  (O Key of David)

Latin:
      O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;Latin:

qui aperis, et nemo claudit;

claudis, et nemo aperit:

veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,

sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

To listen to this prayer in Latin either cut & paste this link into your browser or highlight and right click then 'go to'.

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/sapientia.mp3

Isaiah had prophesied:

• "I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open." Isaiah 22:22
• "His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore." Isaiah 9:7
• "...To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."Isaiah 42:7.

Let us remember today to be active participants in His Kingdom, be His Blessing to All!

In his Glory and Grace,

Roy

"King David in Prayer" - Pieter de Grebber 

O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) - Day 3 of the O Antiphons

Today December 19th is the third day of the O Antiphons.  Today is 'O Radix Jesse' or 'O Root of Jesse'.  

The O Antiphons are short prayers sung before and after the Magnificat, the great prayer of Mary in Luke 1:46-55 when coming visit to Elizabeth her cousin the Virgin praised God for His favor wondrous deeds. The Magnificat is sung during Vespers, evening prayer. The O Antiphons begin on 17 December, seven days before the Vigil of Christmas (24 December). The seventh and last antiphon is sung at Vespers on 23 December. They are called the "O Antiphons" because they all begin with the letter-word "O": they address Jesus by one of His Old Testament titles.  They are fervent prayers asking Our Lord to come to us.


O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

Latin:

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,

super quem continebunt reges os suum,

quem Gentes deprecabuntur:

veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

English:

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

Listen to it in Latin here (you'll need to cut & paste the link into your browser or highlight and right click 'go to')

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/radixjesse.mp3

Isaiah 11:1-3 & 10

New International Version (NIV)

The Branch From Jesse

11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Romans 15:8-13

New Century Version (NCV)

⁸ I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true. ⁹ And he also did this so that those who are not Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:

“So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people.
    I will sing praises to your name.” Psalm 18:49

¹⁰ The Scripture also says,

“Be happy, you who are not Jews, together with his people.” Deuteronomy 32:43

¹¹ Again the Scripture says,

“All you who are not Jews, praise the Lord.
    All you people, sing praises to him.” Psalm 117:1

¹² And Isaiah says,

“A new king will come from the family of Jesse.^[a]
    He will come to rule over the non-Jewish people,
and they will have hope because of him.” Isaiah 11:10

¹³ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

May this day find you all blessed and well.  May you also find yourselves drawing closer and closer to the Spirit of Christ as we draw nearer day by day to the celebration of his birth into our world.

In His Love and Care,

Roy

December 18th, O Adonai (Lord)

December 18th is the second day of the O'Antiphons.  Today is the day of the 'Lord'.

"Adonai" is "LORD."  It was the Hebrew word that the Jews used when they found the four-lettered word for God's name which they held to be too sacred to pronounce aloud.  Christ is Lord of Creation. We sang this yesterday in the antiphon "O Sapientia". Christ is also Lord of the Covenant with the People He chose. The Lord made covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses. He guided them and all the People. He gave them Law. He protected and feed them. The Lord delivered them from bondage to Pharaoh and unending slavery. He went before them with arm outstretched.

O Adonai  (Lord)

Latin:

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,

qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,

et ei in Sina legem dedisti:

veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

English:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush

and gave him the law on Sinai:

Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

Listen to 'O Adonai' in Latin here.

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/adonai.mp3

You will either need to cut & paste the address into your browser or highlight and right click "go to"

Scripture Reference: 

Exodus 3
Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:6

Relevant verse of  Veni, Veni Emmanuel:

O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.

O Sapientia (Wisdom)

Today we start with the first of the daily verses of the O Antiphon, today starts with the attribute of 'Wisdom'.  Each day will be addressed towards one attribute or quality of the Christ.

O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

Latin:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

English:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other,

mightily and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

To hear the verses in Latin either highlight & right click this address or cut and paste this address into your browser:

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/sapientia.mp3

Often these bits of scripture are associated with the first day of the O Antiphon:

Isaiah 11:2-3

New International Version (NIV)

² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;

Isaiah 28:29

New International Version (NIV)

²⁹ All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,
    whose wisdom is magnificent.

Also compare Sirach 24:1-3

24:1 Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory in the midst of her people.
24:2 In the congregation of the most High shall she open her mouth, and triumph before his power.
24:3 I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud.

May this short blog find you embracing the true meaning of the Christmas Season.  It is the celebration of the birth, the coming into this world of Jesus who is the Christ.  Let us strive to employ Christ's wisdom in all our actions today.  Let his breath, his spirit, be our breath, our spirit in this world. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

In His constant Care,

Roy

PS:

Please remember to pray today for all of those affected by the horrific scene in Newtown, Connecticut.  I have always had a great love for children and my heart is broken to think of all those young families mourning the deaths of their little ones.  No words we can express are adequate, but let us pray that our Lord pulls them all close and helps them to find a way to endure until they are reunited with their little ones in Heaven.  Only then will this overwhelming sadness be turned to joy.  Blessings &Thank you.

O'Antiphons

What are the O'Antiphons?


This week I'm going to post daily the "O Antiphons".

The O'Antiphons aren't something commonly encountered in the Baptist faith but they are well worth learning about and I think we would be well served to consider using them.

Here is a bit about them taken from the catholiceducation.org web site linked above.

The “O Antiphons” refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil.

The exact origin of the “O Antiphons” is not known. Boethius (c. 480-524) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence at that time. At the Benedictine abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they are in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. The usage of the “O Antiphons” was so prevalent in monasteries that the phrases, “Keep your O” and “The Great O Antiphons” were common parlance. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the “O Antiphons” have been part of our liturgical tradition since the very early Church.

The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. 

Starting tomorrow I will post them one by one.

Have a very blessed evening and remember to be "the blessing to somebody today"!

In His Absolute Love & Grace

Roy