Happy 6th Day of Christmas!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IDvEwC0wZ-I
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Thomas Beckett
To learn how the murder of Thomas Beckett affected England and Anglican Christianity, watch this interesting documentary.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DtJX0430bQw&feature=youtu.be
5th Day of Christmas & Thomas Beckett
Today the Church also remembers St. Thomas Beckett. Born in AD 1118, Thomas eventually became the Archbishop of Canterbury. In AD 1170, Thomas was brutally murdered after he confronted the king for his seeking to exert power over the life of the Church.
"Will someone not rid me of this meddlesome priest", said the king. Four knights burst into the cathedral at night, and murdered him at the high altar.
For those who stand up to power, who refuse to be bullied, who work for liberty in conscience, and freedom of religion, St. Thomas Beckett, pray for us.
Monday, December 28, 2015
4th Day of Christmas & Holy Innocents
Happy 4th Day of Christmas!
Today the Church also remembers the Holy Innocents, that otherwise nameless and unremembered group of children who were brutally murdered by a power mad king in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus and so eliminate a possible threat to his continued dominion.
How often do we accept when we are told by those holding the reins of power that "collateral damage" is acceptable or inevitable, or do we turn a blind eye towards the suffering of children, when inflicted in the name of maintaining privilege, luxury, access to cheap goods, or dominion?
How long until we see every human person as our own child, our own most beloved, for whom we have the duty of care? How long until we refuse to serve any power, system, economy, or person that reduces anyone into a commodity, a problem to be eliminated, an alien, or as lacking the same human dignity that we demand for ourselves?
...until the day that we are ourselves transformed by the love of God, and the world is renewed...
For the dawning of that day, please, pray.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uhCLwwmtKjs
Sunday, December 27, 2015
3rd Day of Christmas
Happy 3rd Day of Christmas!
Today the Church also remembers John, the "beloved disciple", who as a young man was one of the disciples of Jesus. Of all the male apostles, John is the only one who did not run away when Jesus was arrested and crucified. He stood with Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the foot of the the cross, and there Jesus commended the duty of care for his mother to him. John cared for Mary until her death many years later.
He lived to old age, even though he faced exile, deprivation, and torture because of his faith in Jesus. He wrote many of the works that are part of the Christian holy scriptures, perhaps most famously the words that begin with "God so loved the world..." and "God is love".
In gratitude we remember John, faithful witness of Jesus and his astonishing revelation that the nature of God is love.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Incarnation
Interesting article about the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/12/25/opinion/the-christmas-revolution.html?_r=0&referer=
Feast of St. Stephen
Happy 2nd Day of Christmas!
Today the Church also remembers St. Stephen of Jerusalem, a young man who was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus (in AD 34, only a year after the crucifixion). He is remembered for taking care of the elderly and the widows of Jerusalem.
This famous Christmas carol reminds us of St. Stephen, and how we are ourselves responsible for the care of those who are vulnerable amongst us.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SQVUMG6LZGM
Friday, December 25, 2015
12 Days of Christmas
For the Christmas enthusiast!
http://fullhomelydivinity.org/articles/Twelve%20Days%20of%20Christmas%20full%20page.htm
Christmas giving
Wonderful ways to give this Christmas:
http://www.episcopalrelief.org/
http://www.heifer.org
http://blessingsinabackpack.org/
Give to your local food bank, or volunteer at a local shelter.
Merry Christmas!
O Emmanuel
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.
O Rex gentium
In 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.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LzU8eYZjA7I
O oriens
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.
O clavis David
Latin:
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
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.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fDg29sswhgQ
O radix Jesse
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VFE7B-DZ8_w
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.
O Adonai
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.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CvafrxZ_Ww4
O sapientia
As we enter the last week of Advent and draw near to the celebration of the birth of Jesus, we sing these antiphons as part of vespers.
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.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ngcQDQfhlA
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