Secundum Verbum Tuum
For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy almighty word leapt down from heaven...
The Invitatory: Venite adoremus
Prepare Thy Soul One might say that, in the structure of monastic Vigils, Psalm 3 (see my previous entry) corresponds to the porch of the...
In the School of the Lord’s Service
Food for the Soul Over the past several weeks I have been reading two fascinating and inspiring biographies by Dom Guy-Marie Oury, O.S.B. The first...
Splendor gloriae tuae
I took this sunrise photo last November at Saint-Loup-sur-Aujon. It goes very well, I think, with today’s beautiful Advent Collect: Oriatur quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, in...
Cleansing of the Mind
Here is today’s Collect in the Missale Romanum and in the Liturgia Horarum. In the 1962 Missale Romanum it is the Collect of the Second...
Our Lady in Advent
This morning at Vigils the Second Reading was from a homily by Abbot Geoffrey of Admont. It was wonderfully suitable, coming after the feasts of...
The Heavenly Physician
I cannot resist offering a little commentary on the Collect of the day, one of Advent’s most beautiful prayers: Omnipotens Deus, qui nos praecipis iter...
Ave, liber incomprehensus
At Matins this morning I listened, enchanted, to Saint Epiphanius’ rapturous praises of the All-Holy Mother of God. The witness of Saint Epiphanius is precious:...
Ioannem quaerit, Ioannem desiderat, ad Ioannem vadit
At Matins this morning there were two stupendous readings from Benedictine sources: one from Saint Peter Damian, Bishop (1007-1072), and the other from Saint Bede...
Non transalpinare necesse est
Non te opportet, o homo, maria transfretare, non penetrare nubes, non transalpinare necesse est. Non grandis, inquam, tibi ostenditur via: usque ad temetipsum occurre Deo...
Invenisti gratiam apud Deum
Advent and the Annunciation Our Lady, the glorious Virgin of Isaiah’s prophecy (Is 7:14), is everywhere present in the liturgy of Advent, and this from...
Re-enrolling in the Church’s School of Prayer
Today’s Collect Da, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus, hanc tuis fidelibus voluntatem, ut, Christo tuo venienti iustis operibus occurentes, eius dexterae sociati, regnum mereantur possidere caeleste. Almighty...
The Last Collect of Advent
December 24 Collect at the Hours and at the Mass in the Morning Come quickly, we beseech you, Lord Jesus, and do not delay, so...
Et vocabit nomen eius Iesum
Fourth Sunday of Advent A Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 23:1-6. R. cf. vv. 7. 10 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24 Mary and Joseph Today’s Gospel presents the...
Feast of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Yes, today, December 18th, is one of the liturgy’s loveliest old Advent festivals of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that of the Expectatio Partus. It was...
The Great O Antiphons
How delightful to see in this painting both little Johns, the Baptist and the Theologian, together with the Incarnate Word, Holy Wisdom. Note that the...
A Mother Ever-Virgin
O SAPIENTIA Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Psalm 71: 1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 Matthew 1:1-17 The Wondrous Exchange O God, Creator and Redeemer of human nature, who...
Rosy Reminder
Did you get pink (or rose) flowers for Gaudete Sunday? Rose–coloured roses may be your first choice, but I like carnations — one single huge...
Qui sequitur te, Domine, habebit lumen vitae
December 14 Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church Isaiah 48:17-19 Psalm 1 (R. Jn 8:12) Matthew 11: 16-19...
Strengthen Ye the Feeble Hands
Monday of the Second Week of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 84:8ab and 9, 10-11, 12-13 (R. Isaiah 35:4f) Luke 5:17-26 The Promises of God Again...