Monthly Archives: December 2019

This photo was taken, probably by my Dad, in 1946.  Dr. Redeman, a family friend, was Santa. He visited the homes of parents with children on Christmas Eve in our small town. Three of us four children sit in little … Continue reading →

Monday, December 23  —   “my little heart loses its limits in joy” Advent ends today: three plus weeks of prophecy daring us to see the world, realistically,  as  beautiful and beloved.   That dare can shake us when Advent’s antiphons … Continue reading →

Sunday, December 22 Sunday before Christmas O Antiphon #6   O Rex Gentium – O King of the Nations O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! Today’s Post: … Continue reading →

Dec 21 shortest daylight = solstice Saturday, December 21  –  O Oriens At Detroit’s latitude we will have 9 hours and 3 minutes of daylight, 14 hours and 57 minutes of night time. Our shortest day. Today’s O Antiphon, “O … Continue reading →

Friday,  December 20 “Come and lead us who sit bound with chains in the prison house” I am still in the working class suburb down river from Baden, PA.  The Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden and I tell each other stories … Continue reading →

Thursday,  December 19 Today’s Antiphon, “O Root of Jesse,” grew out of two Biblical texts recounting the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23 and Matthew 1:1).  Both versions locate the new born baby as Jesus, a human being, more than as … Continue reading →

Tuesday, December 18  –  “to ease attention off when overtight” We are 4 days out from the winter solstice (http://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/winter-solstice.html).   But that’s for the future.  Now, deep into December’s winter,  is a time to treat long nights with respect … Continue reading →

Monday December 17  — “It is the 3 strange angels . . . ” The “O Antiphons” are one of the few song-sets from the seven monastic liturgical hours.  Their poetry and song bring Advent wisdom to bear on this  season … Continue reading →

Monday, December 16  –   “I am going to smuggle some more of your laughter into this poem” Today has a feeling of wrapping things up for this semester — even though academic work remains in many parts of the university … Continue reading →

Wednesday, December 11  “around me surges a miracle of birth and glory and death and resurrection” A  mid-December day:  lots of scrambling these days inside and across our work lives. Here’s one of e.e. cummings’ poems praising the timeless beauty … Continue reading →