Happy New Year

We pray that 2012 was a year of growth in the Lord and a greater awareness of your vocation in life. We are all called to a vocation, to grow closer to the Lord in our daily lives.

May God continue to bless each and every one of us.

Jesus undercover!

No Joseph, dig over here!

You think your cold....

Are you sure we are in the right place....

A Child's Prayer Before the Christmas Crib

Baby on the soft warm hay,

I have a birthday gift for you.

I am wrapping up this whole, long day,

All filled with good things I can do.

I'll help my parents in the house

and try hard to obey.

I'll do a kind deed for my friend,

and I'll be cheerful when I play.

I'll clean my plate at every meal.

I'll put my toys and games away.

I'll go to bed without a fuss

and kneel down silently to pray.

Baby on the soft warm hay,

Wax baby Jesus on a net from the Zulu people, our creche in the Cor Jesu Chapel.

How do you like my gift today?

Good Morning Jesus

Bright good morning, Infant Jesus, Thou hast given me this day.

Thou are lying in a manger resting on hard straw and hay.

Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee
Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee

Thou Hast guarded me in slumber, hearty thanks I give to Thee.
Angels hast around me gathered night and day to watch o'er me.

Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee
Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee

Help me to avoid all evil, meek obedient, modest be.
That I live to please Thee always, Heavenly Child, assist Thou me.

Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee
Infant Jesus, how Thou lov'st me Tenderly I too love Thee

Good Morning Baby Jesus



Good Night Baby Jesus

1 Sweetest Infant Heavenly Child,    E'er we go our rest to seek.

   It shall all our pleasure be             Thee to see so kind and meek.

R We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

    We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

2 Thanking Thee for grace bestowed,   for the day that has declined.

    Infant Jesus, oh may we                    Offer Thee our heart and mind.

R We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

    We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

3  One more favor, heavenly Child,    oh, do Thou our sins forgive.

    Make us pious, good and kind,        In Thy favor let us live.

R We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

    We have come with great delight, wishing Thee a fond Goodnight.

This is the song that we sing to Baby Jesus at our nativity in the Chapel. Every night we process to the statue of Mary in our Chapel and we usually sing the Marian hymn, that corresponds to the liturgical cycle, after Compline, from Christmas to Epiphany we add this song.

Good Night Baby Jesus!

Christmas 2012 Our new nativity

Community Sharing at Chirstmas time ....

Due to the wonderful world of living in a small community we have learned to share.... the Flu.....

This is why the blog posts have stopped for a little bit. Sr Blogger was confined to her cell.....

Christmas posts will follow...

O Emmanuel ~ O God With Us Dec 23

O Emmanuel ~ O God with us

our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Rex Gentium ~ O King of Nations Dec 22

O Rex Gentium ~ O King of Nations

and their Desired, the cornerstone Who does make both one: Come and save mankind whom you formed out of clay.

O Oriens ~ O Day Spring Dec 21

O Oriens ~ O Day Spring

Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice; Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

He is the Rising Dawn; He is the Radiance of the Light eternal; He is the Sun of Justice.

We ask Christ to enlighten us by His coming. Who are they who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death? Pagans and unbelievers, sinners and atheist. But also in us " the Faithful" there is still much darkness much of death's shadow. Open your soul and let the divine light shine in!

Abbot Guerager OSB The Liturgical Year Advent



O Clavis David ~ O Key of David Dec 20th

O Clavis David ~ O Key of David

O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel: You open and no man closes; you close and no man opens. Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Come and deliver us and use your Key to open our locked hearts for your love to enter; so that Jesus can penetrate into its innermost regions.

O Radix Jesse ~ O Root of Jesse Dec 19th

O Radix Jesse.... O Root of Jesse

You stand for an ensign of mankind; before You kings shall keep silence, and to You all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay.

    Christ is of the root of Jesse, both as a descendant of David and as occupant of the royal throne. The wording of the prophetic text, however, does not pass over our Savior's external lowliness and poverty.
   The bulk of the antiphon is doted to a description of the kingdom. The small twig becomes the unifying principle about which the nations will gather like soldiers and citizens about their flag. With yearning the peoples will assemble around Him, will turn and acknowledge Him as Ruler. The Messiah's glory will be so great that even kings will stand dumbstruck in wonder and awe.

Abbot Gueranger OSB The Liturgical Year Advent pgs 180-181

O Adonai ~ O God of the Covenant~ Dec 18th

O Adonai God of the covenant and ruler of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mt Sinai gave him Your Law: Come and with an outstretched arm redeem us!

The Second person of the Blessed Trinity had an active part in creation, as noted in yesterday's "O" antiphon. Now the liturgy , seeing Christ in the perspective of divinity, finds Him active in the Old Testament. Christ was the " Covenant of God" (Adonai) of the Chosen People.

Reflection: The deliverance from Egypt has always been regarded as a leading Old Testament type for Christ's work of redemption. Pharaoh is the infernal prince into whose bondage mankind had fallen through sin; Moses is the redeemer--Christ, who redeems. Of old God appeared in the thornbush, in the fullness of time He appeared on earth clothed in human flesh--even now we are at the point of celebrating that appearance with admiration and joy.

And today He wants to enter my soul, to be its Ruler and Lawgiver. " Come, follow Me," walk in My footsteps, He pleads. Christian life means following Christ. Christ wants to be my Law. Without law there is no kingdom of God. He wants to redeem me " with an outstretched arm," but can do so only on  condition that I unite my will to His. Listen, soul, to His directions.

Abbot Gueranger OSB  The Liturgical Year Advent pg 179-180

O Sapientia ~O Wisdom Dec 17th~

~O Wisdom ~

This is the first of the O Antiphons

(This is the Magnificat Antiphon from Vespers on the 17th of Dec.)

The Church enters today on the seven days which precede the Vigil of Christmas, and which are known in the liturgy under the name of the Greater Ferias. The ordinary of the Advent Office becomes more solemn; the antiphons of the psalms, both for Lauds and the Hours of the Day, are proper, and allude expressly to the great coming. Every day, at Vespers, is sung a solemn antiphon, consisting of a fervent prayer to the Messias, whom it addresses by one of the titles given Him in the sacred Scriptures.

In the Roman Church, there are seven of these antiphons, one for each of the greater ferias, They are commonly called the O's of Advent, because they all begin with that interjection.

Let us enter into the spirit of the Church; let us reflect on the great day which is coming; that thus we may take our share in these the last and most earnest solicitations of the Church imploring her Spouse to come, to which He at length yields.

Abbot Gueranger OSB The Liturgical Year Advent

Third Sunday Advent ~ Second Vespers

The Monastic Office at St. Emma Monastery

We combine our traditional Monastic Office with the "newer" Roman Office.

We chant the Antiphons and Psalms using simplified Gregorian Chant melodies, and use a different arraignment of Psalms.

Second Vespers 3nd Sunday of Advent



Psalms from Sunday 

1st Ant:  

Psalm 109
~The Lord's revelation to my Master~

2nd Ant:

Psalm 110
~I will thank the Lord with all my heart~

3rd Ant:

Psalm 111
~Happy the man who fears the Lord~

4th Ant: 

Psalm 112
~Praise, O servants of the Lord~

READING

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!
Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near.

Short Responsory:

Show us, O Lord,  Your Mercy,

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

And grant us Your salvation.

~Your Mercy

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

Hymn,

 

V. Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

R. Let the earth be opened, and but forth the Savior.

I Magnificat Ant:   (Saturday)

Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS

To Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, the way, the truth, and the life, let us make our humble prayer:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Son of the Most High, your coming was announced to the Virgin Mary by Gabriel,
come and rule over your people for ever:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Holy One of God, in your presence John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb,
bring the joy of salvation to all the earth:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Jesus the Savior, the angel revealed your name to Joseph the just man,
come and save your people from their sins:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
Light of the world, for whom Simeon and all the just waited,
come and comfort us:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.
O Rising Sun that never sets, Zechariah foretold that you would visit us from above,
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death:
– Come and stay with us, Lord.



Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.


CONCLUDING PRAYER
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation,
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Third Sunday Advent ~First Vespers

The Monastic Office at St. Emma Monastery

We combine our traditional Monastic Office with the "newer" Roman Office.

We chant the Antiphons and Psalms using simplified Gregorian Chant melodies, and use a different arraignment of Psalms.

First Vespers 3nd Sunday of Advent



Psalms of Saturday 

1st Ant:  

Psalm 144 - (145) vs. 10-21

~All your creatures shall thank you O Lord~

2nd Ant:

Psalm 145 (146)

~My soul, give praise to the Lord~

3rd Ant:

Psalm 146 (147)

~Praise the Lord, for he is good~

4th Ant: 

Psalm 147 (148)

~O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!~

READING

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.

Short Responsory:

Show us, O Lord,  Your Mercy,

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

And grant us Your salvation.

~Your Mercy

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

~Show us, O Lord, Your Mercy,

Hymn,

 

V. Drop down dew, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

R. Let the earth be opened, and but forth the Savior.

I Magnificat Ant:   (Saturday)

Luke 1:46-55
The soul rejoices in the Lord

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS

Jesus Christ is the joy and happiness of all who look forward to his coming.
Let us call upon him and say:
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
In joy, we wait for your coming, come, Lord Jesus.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
Before time began, you shared life with the Father, come now and save us.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
You created the world and all who live in it, come to redeem the work of your hands.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
You did not hesitate to become man, subject to death,
come to free us from the power of death.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
You came to give us life to the full, come and give us your unending life.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!
You desire all people to live in love in your kingdom,
come and bring together those who long to see you face to face.
– Come, Lord, and do not delay!


Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.


Concluding Prayer
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation,
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.