Category Archives: ADVENT

WDTPRS – Spy Wednesday: The final prayers

The term “Spy” Wednesday is probably an allusion to Christ’s betrayal by Judas. In the ancient Roman Church at the time of St. Pope Leo I, “the Great” (+461), there was no Mass during the day.  Instead, many of the … Read More

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WDTPRS: O Antiphons – 17 December – O Sapientia – The Way of Prudence

On December 17th we enter into that final stretch of our Advent preparation. In the Church’s solemn prayer of the hours, at Vespers, the great “O Antiphons” are sung. Today we have the first. Years ago, I made a little … Read More

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WDTPRS – 2nd Sunday of Advent: “We escape neither the Enemy lion nor the glorious Lion of Judah”

Our Novus Ordo Collect (once called the “Opening Prayer”) for the 2nd Sunday of Advent was not in the pre-Conciliar Missale Romanum but it was in the so-called Rotulus (“scroll”) of Ravenna, dated perhaps as early as the 5th century. … Read More

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WDTPRS 23 December – The Final O Antiphon – O Emmanuel: The Lawgiver

Today is the final full day before the Vigil of Christmas. In the last days of Advent before the Vigil, the Latin Church sings the O Antiphons for the Magnificat of Vespers.  The song O Come O Come Emmanuel is … Read More

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WDTPRS – 22 December – O Rex Gentium: Mud or dust?

A continuation of our look at the O Antiphons for these last few days before Christmas… LATIN: O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. ENGLISH: O King … Read More

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WDTPRS – 21 December – O Oriens: “O dawn of the East”

We continue our look at the O Antiphons. LATIN: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis. ENGLISH: O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: … Read More

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WDTPRS The O Antiphons: 20 December – O Clavis David – The Key to everything

We continue our look at the O Antiphons with today’s O Clavis David Again we hear the theme of Christ as the Liberator. LATIN: O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: … Read More

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WDTPRS The O Antiphons: 19 December – O Radix Iesse

Here is the O Antiphon for 19 December: O Radix Iesse Again Our Lord is presented as the Liberator. LATIN: O Radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum … Read More

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WDTPRS: O Antiphons – 18 December – O Adonai

The O Antiphons: 18 December – 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 Lord and Ruler … Read More

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St. Lucy and Advent Ember Week

13 December was the darkest day – with the least sunlight – of the old Julian calendar. Today in the Gregorian calendar is the feast of St. Lucy, whose name from the Latin lux, for “light”, reminds us who dwell in … Read More

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WDTPRS – 3rd Sunday of Advent: The childlike dash

We are coming to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also nicknamed Gaudete…. the plural imperative of gaudeo, “Rejoice!”, the first word of the Introit chant. This Sunday there is a relaxation of the penitential aspect of Advent, just Laetare Sunday does … Read More

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WDTPRS – Gaudete Sunday: “good news” of the chaff’s destiny in “unquenchable fire”

The 3rd Sunday of Advent is nicknamed “Gaudete … Rejoice!”, from the first word of the first chant, the Introit.  Today we relax slightly our penitential focus during Advent. Some say Advent is not a penitential time, even though it … Read More

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WDTPRS 2nd Sunday of Advent: “we escape neither the Enemy lion nor the glorious Lion of Judah”

Our Collect (once called the “Opening Prayer”) for the 2nd Sunday of Advent was not in the pre-Conciliar Missale Romanum but it was in the so-called Rotulus (“scroll”) of Ravenna, dated perhaps as early as the 5th century. Omnipotens et … Read More

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WDTPRS – 4th Sunday of Advent (TLM): Mass is a glimpse of heaven

We are drawing close, though because Christmas falls on Sunday we still have a week to go. COLLECT (1962MR): Excita, quaesumus, Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni: et magna nobis virtute succurre; ut, per auxilium gratiae tuae, quod nostra peccata praepediunt, … Read More

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WDTPRS – 4th Sunday of Advent (O.F.): Seeing really is believing

The 4th Sunday’s Collect in the Novus Ordo is also the Post Communion for the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1962MR). The Annunciation was the moment of the Incarnation of our Lord. … Read More

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WDTPRS – 3rd Sunday of Advent: The childlike dash towards the long-desired thing

We are coming to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also nicknamed Gaudete…. the plural imperative of gaudeo, “Rejoice!”, the first word of the Introit chant.  This Sunday there is a relaxation of the penitential aspect of Advent, just Laetare Sunday does … Read More

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6 Dec – St Nicholas: SNOWFLAKE ALERT! NOT A “SAFE SPACE”!

WARNING SNOWFLAKES! This blog is NOT a Safe Space for you!  This post, especially, is NOT a Safe Space for you. You know which sites you can go to to be affirmed and unchallenged by anything truly Catholic.  Please go … Read More

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WDTPRS – 2nd Sunday of Advent: LIONS!

“We escape neither the Enemy lion nor the glorious Lion of Judah”! Our Collect (once called the “Opening Prayer”) for the 2nd Sunday of Advent was not in the pre-Conciliar Missale Romanum but it was in the so-called Rotulus (“scroll”) … Read More

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WDTPRS 4th Sunday of Advent (2002MR): Seeing is believing.

The 4th Sunday’s Collect is also the Post Communion for the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (1962MR). The Annunciation was the moment of the Incarnation of our Lord. Therefore, on that feast … Read More

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WDTPRS 2nd Sunday of Advent: “we escape neither the Enemy lion nor the glorious Lion of Judah”

Our Collect (once called the “Opening Prayer”) for the 2nd Sunday of Advent was not in the pre-Conciliar Missale Romanum but it was in the so-called Rotulus (“scroll”) of Ravenna, dated perhaps as early as the 5th century. Omnipotens et … Read More

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