Author Archives: Steve Benner

AntiphonChant: https://tinyurl.com/y8zya7wc O radix Jesse,qui stas in signum populorum,super quem continebunt reges os suum,quem Gentes deprecabuntur:veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. O Root of Jesse,standing as a sign among the peoples;before you kings will shut their mouths,to you the nations will make their prayer:Come and deliver us, and delay no longer. O Root of Jesse,youContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, December 19, 2021”

Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaqpktwa O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,et ei in Sina legem dedisti:veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bushand gave him the law on Sinai:Come and redeem us with an outstretchedContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, December 18, 2021”

O SapientiaThe Western Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as theContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, December 17, 2021”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/py2kunu6 Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear.Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. Isaiah 35 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly loveContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, December 16, 2021”

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/yv8p7hny Drop down dew from above, you heavens,and let the clouds rain down the Just One;let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior. Isaiah 45 Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires, known,and from whom no secrets are hid:Cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectlyContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, December 15, 2021”

John of the CrossBorn to an impoverished noble family near Avila in Spain in 1542, Juan de Yepes was brought up by his widowed mother and went to a charity school. He worked as a nurse and received further education from the Jesuits before entering the Carmelite order when he was twenty-one. Having distinguished himselfContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, December 14, 2021”

Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson was born in 1709 and is best known as a writer of dictionaries and a literary editor. Yet in his lifetime he was renowned for his religious beliefs and as a firm supporter of the practice and order of the Church of England. He had been converted to Christianity as young manContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, December 13, 2021”

Antiphon1 Ant. Rejoice in the Lord always; * again I say, rejoice.Let your forbearance be known to all men.The Lord is at hand.Do not be anxious over anything;but in all manner of prayer,let your requests be made known unto God.V. O Lord, you have favored your land, *and brought back the captives of Jacob.You forgave the guiltContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, December 12, 2021”

Karl BarthBorn in Switzerland in 1886, Barth studied at several prestigious universities including Tübingen. After completing his studies, he served as pastor in Geneva and Safenwil. The events of the First World War led Barth to critically question the dominant theology of theday, which, in Barth’s view, held a too easy peace between theology andContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, December 11, 2021”

Thomas MertonThomas Merton was born in France in 1915. His early life was unset-tled and it was not until he was at Columbia University in New York that he began to explore Christian faith and the religious life. He was baptised in 1938 and entered the Trappist order at Gethsemani, Kentucky, in 1941. The publicationContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, December 10, 2021”