Father Mirek’s Announcements
Dear OLA Parishioners and Friends,
Many of you might recall that over the first three Sundays in Advent we have tried to recover, recall or even find some new ways to prepare our hearts for Christ coming at Christmas and at the End of Time. Now, with the more direct, immediate, filled with more urgency final days of Advent 2024 maybe we could meditate as a parish upon the ancient tradition of PRAYING, RECITING and Meditating upon the so called “O Antiphons” that are the Holy Mass opening verses for each day of Advent between December 17th to Christmas Eve. Saying the O Antiphons as a family, whether during grace at meals, in front of the manger scene, or in front of the Christmas tree, is a wonderful Ad-vent devotion. To make this devotion even more fruitful, read and meditate together on the Scripture texts on which the antiphons are based.
December 17th:
O SAPIENTIA (Is. 11:2-3; 28:29): “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.”
December 18th:
O ADONAI (Is. 11:4-5; 33:22): “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.”
December 19th:
O RADIX JESSE (Is. 11:1, 10): “O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.”
December 20th:
O CLAVIS DAVID (Is. 9:6; 22:22): “O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
December 21st:
O ORIENS (Is. 9:1): “O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlight-en those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”
December 22nd:
O REX GENTIUMS (Is. 2:4; 9:5): “O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.”
December 23rd:
O EMMANUEL (Is. 7:14): “O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Sav-ior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.”