O Antiphons: O Rex Gentium

O Rex Gentium:

“O King of all the nations, 

the only joy of every human heart; 

O Keystone of the mighty arch of man,

come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.”

A Deer in the Headlights

So, this is me this week.  Christmas is speeding toward me, its shimmering lights reflecting off of my stunned expression!  What to do first?  Wrap? Bake? Shop? Clean? Read a Christmas story? Hide under the covers?  It can be pretty overwhelming.

Now is the time to step back and take a moment to re-focus on the reality of the coming Emmanuel, God-with-us.  It is beyond our ability to conceive, to imagine, or to comprehend that the Infinite, the Almighty, the Great Creator, the Everlasting God became a baby.  And not only this, which in itself was a total abandonment of His privileges of Divinity, but He united Himself to a human body in order to suffer a horrific death--the death of the cross.

For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:  That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:5-11

How can it be that He so desires to be with me, with you, intimately united to our daily lives that He would endure such suffering and abandonment?  Scripture tells us that "Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2" And what was the "joy set before him"?  It was US!  It was His union with you and with me,  the reality of His Presence in our lives.  As Christ is our joy at this Christmas season, so we are His joy.  We are His delight, His desire, His love.  I pray for you, my friend, that you may truly experience in a powerful and profound way His joy, His love, and His peace during the last few days of this holy Advent season.

 

      I salute you. I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got; but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take. No Heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today. Take Heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take peace!

     The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy. There is radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see; and to see, we have only to look. I beseech you to look.

      Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the Angel’s hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty: believe me, that angel’s hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing Presence. Our joys, too: be not content with them as joys, they too conceal diviner gifts.

     Life is so full of meaning and of purpose, so full of beauty—beneath its covering—that you will find that earth but cloaks your heaven. Courage, then to claim it: that is all! But courage you have; and the knowledge that we are pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.

And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you; not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem, and with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away."

– Fra Giovanni Giocondo

Nativity, Lorenzo Costa (1460-1535)

The wonder of this Love is the true wonder of Christmas.  May His Presence fill your heart and give you Peace in the midst of the activities and joys of this week as you meditate on the joy of His coming.

O Antiphons: O Oriens

The Resurrection, Veronese 

O Oriens: 

“O Radiant Dawn,

splendor of eternal light,  sun of justice: 

come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.”

O Antiphons: O Clavis David

Christ Freeing the Captives, The Chora Museum

O Clavis David: 

 O Key of David, 

O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven:

Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

A Cup of Tea....aaaaahhhhh!

My tea and some special flowers!

 

     Happily, I was reminded just a bit ago by Dawn that it is teatime!  What a relief!  After doing Christmas preparation tasks all day,  I was ready for a cup of warm, fragrant vanilla rooibos tea.
I don't have a fancy teacup, but I do have some beautiful flowers sent to me by my son and his wife.
Off to watch the sunset and sip my tea!

O Antiphons: O Radix Jesse

The Jesse Tree

O Radix Jesse: 

O Flower of Jesse’s stem,

you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; 

kings stand silent in your presence;

the nations bow down in worship before you.

Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

O Antiphons: O Adonai

Christ Pantocrator

O Adonai: 

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, 

who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, 

who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: 

come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

O Antiphons: O Sapientia

Christ the Wisdom of God Icon

O Sapientia:

 

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, 

you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.

Come and show your people the way to salvation.

     Today the Church begins to pray the Great "O" Antiphons at Evening Prayer.  Let us meditate on the glory and mercy of our soon-to-come Lord.  Prepare your hearts, the Bridegroom comes!

Seven Things About Myself

    
      Over at Family in Feast and Feria,  Jennifer posted seven things about herself and suggested her readers do likewise.  So, here are the seven things:

1)  I always have a pile...I mean A PILE... of books on my nightstand that I am reading simultaneously.  I love to have options!  Right now on my nightstand I have Primitive Christian Symbols (also available as a free ebook here), I Believe in Love,  Robert the Bruce: King of Scots, Conferences to Children on Practical Virtue, The Way of the Storyteller, Christmastide, and, always, The Liturgy of the Hours.  I sometimes read novels, but not usually.  I just finished Mink River , a birthday gift from my sister, which I really enjoyed.

2)  I grew up in the lovely, wet state of Washington.
I still miss the salt water of Puget Sound,
the moderate climate, and my many family
members who live out there.  I visit for weeks
every summer and get my fill (almost!) of rock
throwing, motorboat riding, and sisterly chatting.
I just had to post this picture of my amazingly adorable
great-niece (YIKES!) standing in front of the beautiful blue Pacific...isn't she so cute? 









3)  I have lately gotten hooked on Lumosity, which is a brain training website.  As I get (lots!) older, I find my brain is not what it once was!  This site has lots of fun games to build attention, speed, problem solving, memory, and something else that I have now forgotten!  So there it is!

4)  I am dreaming of spring and expanding my little garden.  I have loved my herbs best of all: rosemary, thyme, chives, tarragon, basil, sorrel, summer savory, and oregano.  I keep losing my sage...maybe too much water???  I am currently enjoying reading books that help me dream:
In the French Kitchen Garden  and Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guide to Kitchen Gardens.  Oh, and The Glass Pantry. (Umm, these aren't on my nightstand...they are in the living room in ANOTHER stack of books by my chairs...how embarassing!)

My Rosemary

And here's a favorite appetizer recipe I often make for holiday gatherings:

 Recipe for Rosemary Walnuts
from Nourishing Traditions


2 cups crispy (that's roasted) walnuts
2 T. butter
2 T. dried rosemary, or use a bunch of fresh (like 8 T.)
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Melt butter with rosemary, salt, and cayenne pepper.  Toss with walnuts.  Bake at 350 for ten minutes.  Store in covered container in refrigerator.







5)  Because of the circumstances of my life right now, I am without many of my beloved Advent/Christmas liturgical year resources.  I am trying to learn to focus on the spiritual preparations that are appropriate to this time of year.  Detachment doesn't come easily to me, but the Lord keeps on putting me in situations where I am forced to let go.  I consider this a great grace on His part; He doesn't give up on pathetic me.  Each time I must let go, I learn a tiny bit more about His sufficiency and my own weaknesses.

St. John of the Cross

     In detachment the spirit finds quiet and repose, for coveting nothing, nothing wearies it by elation and nothing oppresses it by dejection, because it stands in the centre of its own humility...

St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel













6)  I have a crockpot of split pea soup made with homemade stock simmering away for dinner tonight.  I'm the only one who will like it, but sometimes Mamma just has to be kind to herself!  I make it once a year, so I figure they will all survive having it for ONE meal.  I mean, it's a penitential season, right?  I think I'll read George and Martha to the kids (George hides his split pea soup in his shoe so he doesn't offend  his friend Martha, who made it).

 


      "Martha was very fond of making split pea soup. Sometimes she made it all day long.  Pots and pots of split pea soup.
     "If there was one thing George was not fond of, it was split pea soup.  As a matter of fact, George hated split pea soup more than anything else in the world. But it was so hard to tell Martha."
               from George and Martha: Split Pea Soup
               by James Marshall









7)  I am contemplating these days the nature of the proper balance between reading about living and actually participating in life.  It is good to read about holiness, but then we must live it.  It is fun to read about gardening, but then we must get out and dig.  Sometimes I read too much.  A few years ago at Lent I actually gave up reading for Lent...talk about a penance! (Obviously, that didn't include books I read to my children, just my own reading).  I am finding as I get older that there is so much to learn in this world and so little time to learn it that most of what I want to accomplish will surely be left undone.  I am working on making my days more about a steady pacing of living a holy life well and of experiencing nature, life, and the people around me.

Life is a balancing act.

So, there ya' go!  Everything you never wondered about me!

Advent 2011: Mary Hidden in Advent links

The Nativity by The Master of Gerona, late 1200's

     In order to help you more easily navigate the Mary Hidden in Advent posts and correlate them with Advent 2011 dates, I have listed links to each post and the dates you could use them.  Because Advent is long this year, the last few days continue onto the Nativity itself. 

Basic Information on the Mary Hidden in Advent series


Introduction and How to Use
Summary Chart with Bible references, ornaments, Marian titles
Crafting Ideas for Ornaments 
Other Ornament Ideas 




First Week of Advent

Sunday, 11/27/11                         Day 1: Creation

Monday, 11/28/11                        Day 2: Adam and Eve 

Tuesday, 11/29/11                       Day 3: The Fall

Wednesday, 11/30/11                  Day 4: Noah 

Thursday, 12/1/11                       Day 5: Abraham

Friday, 12/2/11                            Day 6: The Sacrifice of Isaac 

Saturday, 12/3/11                        Day 7: Jacob's Ladder 

Second Week of Advent

Sunday, 12/4/11                         Day 8: Joseph's Youth 

Monday, 12/5/11                        Day 9: Joseph in Egypt 

Tuesday, 12/6/11                       Day 10: Moses in Basket 

Wednesday, 12/7/11                  Day 11: The Exodus 

Thursday, 12/8/11                      Day 12: Moses and the Law 

Friday, 12/9/11                           Day 13: Ruth 

Saturday, 12/10/11                     Day 14: Samuel 

Third Week of Advent

Sunday, 12/11/11                       Day 15: David the Shepherd 

Monday, 12/12/11                      Day 16: David before the Ark 

Tuesday, 12/13/11                     Day 17: Solomon 

Wednesday, 12/14/11                Day 18: Elijah 

Thursday, 12/15/11                    Day 19: Tobias and Raphael 
Friday, 12/16/11                         Day 20: Daniel 
Saturday, 12/17/11                     Day 21: John the Baptist 

Fourth Week of Advent

Sunday, 12/18/11                       Day 22: The Annunciation 
Monday, 12/19/11                      Day 23: The Visitation 
Tuesday, 12/20/11                      Day 24: St. Joseph
Wednesday, 12/21/11                 Day 25: Journey to Bethlehem
Thursday, 12/22/11                     Day 26: The Birth of Jesus
Friday, 12/23/11                          Day 27: The Wise Men
Saturday, 12/24/11                      Day 28: The Flight into Egypt


HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY CHRISTMAS!!!