I have always loved “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” but never knew until recently that it is based on the seven “O Antiphons” that have been sung for many centuries before and after the Magnificat at Vespers for seven days leading up to Christmas (Dec 17-23). Each of the brief antiphons starts with “O” and […]

Today is Rose or Gaudete Sunday; “Gaudete” from the the Introit sung at mass:  “Gaudete in Domino, semper gaudete” – “Rejoice in The Lord always, again I say, rejoice.” Everything in the liturgy today speaks of JOY. In honor of this day of rejoicing, some verses from the Bible on joy, as food for meditation: […]

If the word for Advent last week was Awake, then this week it’s Prepare.  John cries out in the desert: Repent; make straight in the desert a highway for the Lord! I never understood this until I went to Israel.  Before that, I always thought the desert was a flat and sandy, barren place, stretching […]

The snow crunches as I walk and everything is quiet.  Bare trees stretch toward the sky and gather morning sunshine in their branches.  Advent is upon us and I didn’t see it coming.  Like the trees, I need to reach to heaven.  He is coming! How can I prepare? Lucky for me, the Church anticipates […]