Author Archives: Steve Benner

Saint StephenIn the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen is described as one of the seven deacons whose job it is to care for the widows in the early Church in Jerusalem. His eloquent speech before the Sanhedrin, in which he shows the great sweep of Jewish history as leading to the birthContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, December 26, 2023”

Antiphon1 Ant. Yours are the heavens, yours is the earth, * the world and the fullness thereof have been founded by you. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.V. A God to be feared in the council of the holy ones, *great and awesome to all around him. Psalm 89 Almighty God, O Immanuel,OContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, December 25, 2023”

Antiphon1 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,and all flesh shall see the salvation which comes from our God.V. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *the world, and those who dwell in it.It is he who set it on the seas; *on the rivers he made it firm. Isaiah 40, Psalm 24 Purify ourContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, December 24, 2023”

AntiphonChant https://tinyurl.com/y9mr4gll O Emmanuel,Rex et legifer noster,exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God. O Immanuel,child of promise and sign of hope,you come from a distance far beyond our reach,yetContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, December 23, 2023”

Frances Xavier CabriniFrancesca Saverio Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. Her deep trust in the loving care of her God gave her the strength to be a valiant woman doing the work of Christ. Refused admission to the religious order which had educated her to be a teacher, she began charitableContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, December 22, 2023”

AntiphonChant: https://tinyurl.com/yar6cdh3 O Oriens,splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Morning Star,splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. O Rising Dawn,you shine with warm brightness and clean freshness,chasing the fearsome shadows of the night away:enlightenContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, December 21, 2023”

AntiphonChant: https://tinyurl.com/y9a62bf3 O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;qui aperis, et nemo claudit;claudis, et nemo aperit:veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead theContinue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, December 20, 2023”

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 Tuesday, December 19, 2023”

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 Monday, December 18, 2023”

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 Sunday, December 17, 2023”