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MaryM
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Today, December 17 is the first day of the O Antiphons. It fits perfectly as a focus for our 1st ever 4 Real Retreat. Join in some reflection and sharing on this portion of the Advent liturgical season.
The O Antiphons are the final phase of preparation for Christmas, the Church recites or chants the O Antiphons preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours.
On the Catholic Culture website our own, Jennifer Miller, shares some helpful information about the O Antiphons. Whether this information is new to you or you are familiar, we're sharing it again as a way to kick off the retreat.
Quote:
These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. The Church recalls the variety of the ills of man before the coming of the Redeemer.
The "O" Antiphons are the verses for the ancient hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The first letter of the Messianic titles: Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia—spell out Latin words ERO CRAS, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come." |
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Let us pray for a fruitful and uplifting retreat time here over the next several hours. May all us us come away refreshed and enriched for the final days of preparation for Christmas.
[Day the first day of the O Antiphons, we begin with WISDOM]
O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: Come, and teach us the way of prudence.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name. And His Mercy is from generation unto generations upon them that fear Him.
He hath shewed might in His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever.
O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: Come, and teach us the way of prudence.
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. ~Isaiah 11:2-3
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Mary M. in Denver
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MaryM
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Also for your listening pleasure to set the retreat mood:
This is a nice audio click of chant for the first antiphon -Chant - O Sapientia
Or, - a version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which is the song we are most familiar with based on the O Antiphons.
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Mary M. in Denver
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4 lads mom
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Okay, I will jump in...for as long as I can remember, I have had either medically fragile or sick kids [or both] during Advent. This has lent itself to the bare minimum during that time period. I'm okay with that, but I am woefully ignorant of the O Antiphons. So, I haven't heard of most of the titles of Christ that you listed. Do each of those titles hold specific meanings to us, specifically during this Penitential season? I would love to know more about those titles.
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MaryM
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4 lads mom wrote:
| Do each of those titles hold specific meanings to us, specifically during this Penitential season? I would love to know more about those titles. |
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Jenn has something wonderful for our retreat "goodie bag" which has more details about this expression of anticipation. She may have some internet interuption this afternoon, but will share with us when she can.
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Mary M. in Denver
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4 lads mom
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Perfect! Looking forward to more info...
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SeaStar
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We have gotten the Jesse tree tradition down here, but I have yet to introduce the O Antiphons at my house. Maybe this year....
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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St. Ann
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This is the second year our family has included the O Antiphons in our Advent at home. It is not something I grew up with, so I really rely on outside help to make it memorable in a positive sense.
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Stephanie
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MaryM
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Well here is something for the kiddos. I'm throwing it in as as a helpful distracter - Michele's coloring page on O Night Divine for the kids to color while mom is "on retreat"  .
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Mary M. in Denver
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St. Ann
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MaryM wrote:
| Well here is something for the kiddos. I'm throwing it in as as a helpful distrator - Mary Ellen's coloring page for the kids to color while mom is "on retreat" . |
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Mary, it is lovely.
My kids are already in bed sleeping or reading.
But, I bet it will come in handy tomorrow.
Thanks
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Stephanie
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MaryM
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4 lads mom wrote:
| So, I haven't heard of most of the titles of Christ that you listed. Do each of those titles hold specific meanings to us, specifically during this Penitential season? |
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Most of us are probably more familiar with the translated names:
O Emmanuel, O King of Nations, O Rising Sun, O Key of David, O Root of Jesse, O Lord, O Wisdom
Jenn's gift has scripture passage references to help with reflection.
St. Ann wrote:
My kids are already in bed sleeping or reading. |
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That's right you have the time zone on your side .
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Mary M. in Denver
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4 lads mom
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Mary, that makes a lot more sense! The Antiphons have totally escaped me as far as their meaning and usage...looking forward to Jenn's input. I hope someone can paint a picture of how this all looks when you use the Antiphons at home with your family.
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ekbell
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Catherine Doherty's book Donkey Bells has a series of short, easy to understand meditations on the O Antiphons which are very helpful.
Her mediation for today discusses the vital difference between Divine Prudence and human prudence.
The Madonna house CD The Music of Advent and Christmas Vespers has readings of Catherine's meditations with the Chanted Antiphons in the background.
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DominaCaeli
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ekbell wrote:
| Catherine Doherty's book Donkey Bells has a series of short, easy to understand meditations on the O Antiphons which are very helpful. |
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Thanks for the suggestion!
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Celeste
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I wanted to add a book that has been so wonderful and helpful to me in building Advent traditions in the family...
The 12 Days of Christmas by Elsa Chaney
I linked to a free ebook version posted on EWTN. Of course, you can still find this book used if you look for it.
In her book, Elsa Chaney discusses the O'Antiphons:
The Twelve Days of Christmas wrote:
THE "O ANTIPHONS"
CROWN OF ADVENT PREPARATION
The theme of the Advent season has been one of joyous expectancy as the Church, in vigilant preparation, waited and watched for the first signs of the coming of the Lord. The very name Advent, and the Masses of the four Sundays with their urgent plea to Christ to "hasten and delay not" have reminded us that we are awaiting His coming in grace at Christmas, and in glory at the end of time.
On the evening of December 17 the last and most intensive phase of Advent preparation begins. On this evening is inaugurated the first of the Great "O's" of Advent. The "O Antiphons" are seven jewels of liturgical song, one for each day until Christmas Eve. They seem to sum up all our Advent longing as they paint in vivid terms the wretched condition of mankind and his need of a Savior. Addressing Christ with seven magnificent titles, they beg Him with mounting impatience to come to save His people.
The "O Antiphons" are intoned with special solemnity in monasteries at the Vesper Hour, before and after our Lady's great song of thanksgiving, the Magnificat, which is sung every evening as the climax of this Hour of the Divine Office. But in recent years families interested in the liturgy have discovered these gems of poetry and have used them as part of their family evening prayers, sometimes in conjunction with the "O Antiphon House." This is a little house which can be bought or constructed simply; it has seven sealed windows, each masking an appropriate symbol for the different "O Antiphons," and an eighth window hiding the Christmas scene. These windows are opened one by one each day at the singing of the antiphon. "The Twelve Days of Christmas Kit" contains an "O Antiphon" Tower which the children can cut out and put together. The "O Antiphons" in an English translation follow.
O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.
O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arm.
O ROOT OF JESSE, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.
O KEY OF DAVID, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts; who shuts and no man opens: come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice: come, and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth.
O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God. |
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Jen Mackintosh
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cathhomeschool
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SeaStar wrote:
| We have gotten the Jesse tree tradition down here, but I have yet to introduce the O Antiphons at my house. Maybe this year.... |
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We have not "used" our Jesse tree in a couple of years, but the year we made the ornaments (out of felt glued on card stock) the boys also made ornaments for each O Antiphon to add to the tree.
I am grateful for this retreat opportunity to remind myself of and focus on the O Antiphons.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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I haven't gotten the Jesse Tree tradition going yet.  every year I think, well, maybe next year. but we have a very *active* nativity set and a well-established prayer time around the Advent wreath. baby steps ...  I am continually inspired by this forum!
thank you so much for the O Antiphon discussion and other prayers! I am going to go prayerfully ponder while nursing baby to sleep
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Viviane
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We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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Mackfam
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cathhomeschool wrote:
SeaStar wrote:
| We have gotten the Jesse tree tradition down here, but I have yet to introduce the O Antiphons at my house. Maybe this year.... |
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We have not "used" our Jesse tree in a couple of years, but the year we made the ornaments (out of felt glued on card stock) the boys also made ornaments for each O Antiphon to add to the tree. |
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That's how we focus on the O Antiphons here as well - we hang them alongside our Jesse Tree ornaments on our Jesse Tree. I've long wanted to make an O Antiphon house!! I *think* I finally have the supplies I need this year. YAY!! 
I've been working to cultivate an Advent home atmosphere that is a little quieter than years past. This helps me immensely, both in preparing my heart and in assisting the children to prepare their hearts. It also tends to play into my patience level when doing extra crafts and things. I tend to short circuit otherwise! Our quiet has been lovely and I am guarding it fiercely!
So...acknowledging that I could be inviting total chaos just by writing this here...I'm hopeful that our fiercely guarded quiet will result in (among other things) the time to work on our first ever O Antiphon house!
Anyone else work to make home quiet interiorly?? (Not talking about the normal joyful noises!)
We have really focused on family prayer, keeping it simple. Our family prayer focus has been on the Holy Family's Flight into Egypt...their interior peace in spite of their exterior home-less-ness...discussing and reflecting on Our Lady's adoration of the Divine Infant, her unbroken gaze. It has helped us tremendously.
We can't always guarantee that we will be able to enjoy uninterrupted quiet time at home, nor do we know what Our Lord will ask of us tomorrow, but cultivating interior peace is within our grasp with Our Lady's example and help. This year our family has faced a number of challenges that would threaten our peace, but those same challenges have prayerfully anchored us to the present moment, which is a place of grace. I'm so thankful. And, I'm guarding that interior heart-felt quiet within our home, our domestic church, fiercely!
Do share! Have you discovered any other tips that help your family remain interiorly quiet and focused on preparation during the season of Advent?
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Jen Mackintosh
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ekbell
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Our Jesse Tree readings are incorporated into our Advent Wreath Prayers. After we've lit the wreath and prayed we read the Jesse Tree Reading and have a very short discussion.
This year I'm simply pasting small Jesse Tree symbols onto our Advent calendar after our 'Advent Meditation' rather then doing a 'proper' Jesse tree.
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MaryM
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Speaking of O Antiphon Houses...
One of my favorite threads is the Parade of O Antiphon Houses which fits in perfectly with the discussion so I'm linking it. This was new to us as well and only have been doing it for the last 5 years. Don't think you have to do anything fancy and get all kinds of purchased supplies - many much simpler ways to add this in. One is the downloadable version I added in the thread, which I'll add here as well.
Pattern for house- print this out on white paper.
Symbols to go behind doors (from Catholic Culture website) - print out on white paper. Cut out each symbol and glue onto appropriately labeled box of 1st pattern above. Color symbols if desired.
Pattern overlay- Use a heavier card stock in color of choice. Cut out three sides for doors and label with number (17-24) or O Antiphon name.
Glue this pattern so it covers the white pattern (make sure not to glue doors down). Trim upper corners to make house shape.
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Mary M. in Denver
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KauaiCatholic
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OH! this I could do! thank you, Mary! 
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Viviane
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We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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Topic: RETREAT: Faith - Advent Reflections
