20 DecemberOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassO clavis David! O clavis David et sceptrum domus Israel; qui áperis et nemo claudit; claudis et nemo áperit: veni et educ vinctum de domo cárceris, sedéntem in ténebris et umbra mortis.“O key of David and sceptre of Israel, you who open and nobody then can close, who close and nobody then can open: come and lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”The last antiphon celebrated the descent of Jesus from the family of David; today’s antiphon, the middle of the sequence of seven great ‘O Antiphons’ at Vespers, does not recall his descent but looks forward to his royal power, of which David’s was only a shadow and prefiguration.Here is the prophecy spoken by Isaiah: “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah. I place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; should he open, no one shall close, should he close, no one shall open. I drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a throne of glory for his father’s house.” The prophecy was made not about a king but about a mere Master of the Palace, Eliakim, whose family eventually sank into obscurity. But like so many Old Testament prophecies, this one receives a new lease of life as it is illuminated by the light of the rising Sun.(Blessed Scubilion (1797 - 1867)) Born in France in 1797, Jean-Bernard Rousseau felt the call to share his faith and his knowledge with others. He joined the Brothers of the Christian Schools (the de la Salle Brothers) and was given the name Scubilion. In 1833 he was sent to the Isle of Réunion, where he remained until his death in 1867. In Réunion he was named “the catechist of the slaves” on account of his ministry among them. His memorial is celebrated today, the anniversary of the abolition of slavery on the island.(Saint Fachanan of Kilfenora) He is the patron saint of Kilfenora diocese. Little is known about him but he is associated with the foundation of the first monastic settlement in Kilfenora.

19 DecemberOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassO radix Iesse! O radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populórum, super quem continébunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabúntur: veni ad liberándum nos, iam noli tardáre.“O stock of Jesse, who stand as a sign for the nations; before whom kings fall silent; whom the peoples acclaim – come come to deliver us, do not delay any more.”Born into humble circumstances, Jesus is nevertheless a descendant of David and his father Jesse. The family has long lost its royal glory in the eyes of the world, but still it stands as the hinge of salvation history.As Isaiah says: “A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.”This is the third of the seven ancient antiphons at Vespers that count down the days to Christmas. Nothing stands in the way of these antiphons: compared to them, even Sundays have no antiphon of their own.

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) He is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe and its first bishop. He probably lived in the seventh century.

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! O Sapiéntia, quæ ex ore Altíssimi prodísti, attíngens a fine usque ad finem, fórtiter suavitérque dispónens ómnia: veni ad docéndum nos viam prudéntiæ.“O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.”As the great feast of Christmas approaches, its light begins to blot out the lights of the individual days, as planets are blotted out when they appear too close to the Sun. The great “O Antiphons” at Vespers are worth celebrating even if Vespers itself is not part of your daily pattern. They count down the last seven days before Christmas and tie together seven threads of hope, longing and doctrine which all find their culmination and final union in the moment of the Incarnation.Jesus is the Word and Wisdom of God. As Isaiah says, “On him the spirit of the Lord rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power.”

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

Monday of the 3rd week of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Blessed Maria Krizina Bojanc, Maria Antonia Fabjan and Companions, Martyrs)

3rd Sunday of AdventOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(St John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)) He was born in Fontiveros, in Spain, in about 1542. He spent some time as a Carmelite friar before, in 1568, Saint Teresa of Ávila persuaded him to pioneer the reform of the Carmelite order. This was a difficult task and a dangerous one: he suffered imprisonment and severe punishment at the hands of the Church authorities. He died at the monastery of Ubeda in Andalusia on 14 December 1591: the monks there had initially treated him as the worst of sinners, but by the time he died they had recognised his sanctity and his funeral was the occasion of a great outburst of enthusiasm.His works include two major mystical poems – he is considered one of the great poets of the Spanish language – and detailed commentaries on them and the spiritual truths they convey. He was canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926. See the articles in the Catholic Encyclopaedia and Wikipedia.

Saint Lucy, Virgin, MartyrOffice of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | MassSaint Lucy, Virgin, Martyr She was martyred in Syracuse, probably during the persecution of Diocletian (which started in 303). Devotion to her spread rapidly across practically the whole Church and her name is included in the Roman Canon of the Mass. See the article in Wikipedia.

Friday of the 2nd week of Advent, or Our Lady of Guadalupe Office of Readings | Morning Prayer | Evening Prayer | Night Prayer | Mass(Our Lady of Guadalupe) The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, near Mexico City, is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in North America. On December 9, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian convert, Juan Diego, and left with him a picture of herself impressed upon his cloak. Devotion to Mary under this title has continually increased, and today she is the Patroness of the Americas.See also the article in the Catholic Encyclopaedia.(Saint Finian of Clonard (470 - 549)) He founded Clonard Abbey in modern-day County Meath, and the Twelve Apostles of Ireland studied under him. See the article in Wikipedia.

Pope Francis' top diplomats met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on April 19, where the two sides discussed migrants and refugees following months of clashes between U.S. church leaders and the Trump administration over immigration policy and foreign aid.