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 of fear and meanness and dawning joy. They remind us that our hard times come to us as only part of a vast historical fabric, that hope runs deeper by far than the weariness of ourselves and of the women and men among whom we live. When I follow the news and bring my 2019 awareness into the antiphons, they help me walk the world a little taller and with attentive sensual awareness.
May these prayers do something like that for you too. D. H. Lawrence, of Lady Chatterley fame, wrote poetry as well. Here is an Advent prayer if there ever was one. Blessings for each of the coming seven “O antiphon” days.
john sj
Today’s Post “the three strange angels”
“What is the knocking?
What is the knocking at the door in the night?
It is somebody who wants to do us harm.
No, no, it is the three strange angels. Admit them, admit them.”
Today’s Post December 17 — “O Sapientia”
“O wisdom, coming forth from the Most High, filling all creation and reigning to the ends of the earth; come and teach us the way of truth.”
“O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter,suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.”
To listen to the Antiphon sung in Gregorian Chant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6zaiZxJIpU