18 DecemberOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassO Adonai!

O Adonái et Dux domus Israel, qui Móysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuísti et ei in Sina legem dedísti: veni ad rediméndum nos in bráchio exténto.“O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.”Approaching the feast of God as man, we remember that this baby is the God and leader of Israel. “Adonai” is the name which is pronounced whenever the too-sacred name “YHWH” occurs in the Hebrew scriptures. It means “Sovereignty”, and by its use in sacred contexts it itself becomes too sacred to be used in ordinary speech.This is the second great Vesper antiphon in the seven-day countdown to Christmas. Vespers is the appropriate time for this antiphon since this is when the Magnificat, Mary’s own hymn of praise, is sung or said.(Saint Flannan, Bishop)

17 DecemberOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassAdvent, Part II

From today the prayers and readings take on a different nature. In the first half of Advent we count forwards: first week, second week, and so on, paying attention to Advent Sunday, the day when Advent started.Now the second half of Advent has begun, and Advent Sunday is forgotten: it is Christmas Day that matters. Today is the eighth day before Christmas, tomorrow is the seventh day, and so on. The prayers follow this countdown, and the final readings from Isaiah build up to their climax.O Sapientia!

Tuesday of the 3rd week of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Bl Mary of the Angels (1661-1717))

Born in Turin, Italy, in 1661, she died, after spending her whole life there, in 1717. In 1675 she entered the Discalced Carmelite Convent of St  Christina, and several times filled the offices of Prioress and Novice Mistress. She underwent continual spiritual trials, but was constant in her ardent love of God. She was outstandingly faithful to prayer and particularly devoted to St  Joseph, in whose honour a convent was founded through her good offices at Moncalieri.Carmelite Breviary