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Dec 21

The Secret Message Hidden in the Ancient “O Antiphons” of Advent

December 21, 2015

The Secret Message Hidden in the Ancient “O Antiphons” of Advent

Canadian Pacific, Flickr

One of the most beautiful ancient Advent liturgical traditions is the “O Antiphons.” If you pray the Liturgy of the Hours, then you probably pray them every year. If you know the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel, then you know a paraphrase of them.

But did you know they have a secret message hidden within them?

At least that’s what some people claim. I’ll explain the evidence, and you can decide for yourself.

But first, what is an antiphon? Antiphons are short responses used in liturgies. The “O Antiphons” specifically are a set of seven short texts based on verses from the Old Testament book Isaiah that are used in Vespers (Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours) in the last week leading up to Christmas.

Scholars are not really sure who put the “O Antiphons” together or when. There’s evidence they date back to somewhere in the mid first millennium, but it’s possible they go back all the way to the early Church. Either way, they are old. Which makes this potential secret message all the more interesting.

The traditional text is in Latin. You can read the full text here. And this is where we find the suppose secret message.

First, you need to take the first letter of the first word (after the “O”) of the first line of each antiphon in Latin. Here’s what this looks like:

1) O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti…
2) O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel…
3) O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum…
4) O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel…
5) O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae…
6) O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum…
7) O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster…

You get the letters SARCORE.

Next, if you read them backwards, they become EROCRAS. Ero cras happens to be a Latin phrase meaning “Tomorrow, I will come.”

And of course, once the seven day cycle for the “O Antiphons” is completed, the next day is Christmas – the day Jesus comes.

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2015/12/21/the-secret-message-hidden-in-the-ancient-o-antiphons-of-advent/

Dec 21

The Sovereign Queen Marks Her Children

December 21, 2015

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Dec 20

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 20, 2015

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purple

1st Class

[STATION AT THE TWELVE APOSTLES]

The Catholic liturgy reminds us, during these four weeks, of the time during which the world was without Jesus. This Mediator we now await, and since we can go to God only through Him, we implore Him to hasten His coming.


INTROIT ¤ Isaias 45. 8
	Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem. — Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei: et opera manuum eius annuntiat fimamentum. V.: Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Rorate, coeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum: aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.	Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior. — (Ps. 18. 2). The heavens show forth the glory of God: and the firmament declareth the work of His hands. V.: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior.

The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted.

COLLECT
	Excita, quaesumus Domine, potentiam tuam, et veni, et magna nobis virtute succurre; ut per auxilium gratiae tuae, quod nostra peccata praepediunt, indulgentia tuae propitiationibus acceleret: qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	O Lord, we beseech Thee, stir up Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us: that by the help of Thy grace that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Thy merciful forgiveness. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end.

EPISTLE ¤ I Cor. 4. 1-5 Lesson from the first Epistle of Blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Apostoli ad Corinthios. [St. Paul speaks of the ministers of Christ, and addressing those who judge their pastors he reminds them that He alone who shall come one day as Judge has the right to do this.]
	Fratres: Sic nos existimet homo ut ministros Christi, et dispensatores mysteriorum Dei. Hic iam quaeritur inter dispensatores, ut fidelis quis inveniatur. Mihi autem pro minimo est, ut a vobis iudicer, aut ab humano die: sed neque meipsum iudico. Nihil enim mihi conscius sum: sed non in hoc iustificatus sum: qui autem iudicat me, Dominus est. Itaque nolite ante tempus iudicare, quoadusque veniat Dominus: qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestabit consilia cordium: et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo.	Brethren, Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man’s day: but neither do I judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of anything: yet am I not hereby justified, by He that judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord come: Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels fo the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.

GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 144. 18, 21
	Prope est Dominus omnibus invocantibus eum: omnibus qui invocant eum in veritate. V.: Laudem Domini loquetur os meum et benedicat omnis caro nomen sanctum eius. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Veni, Domine, et noli tardare: relaza facinora plebis tuae Israel. Alleluia.	The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him: to all that call upon Him in truth. V.: My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His Holy Name. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: Come, O Lord, and tarry not: forgive the sins of Thy people Israel. Alleluia.

When on the Ferias of Advent the Mass of the Sunday is used, the Alleluia and its verses are not said, but only the Gradual.

GOSPEL ¤ Luke 3. 1-6 † Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke. †Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. [The day of mercy is coming proclaimed by John the Baptist.]
	Anno quintodecimo imperii Tiberii Caesaris, procurante Pontio Pilato Iudaeam, tetrarcha autem Galilaeae Herode, Philippo autem fratre eius tetrarcha Ituraeae, et Trachonitidis regionis, et Lysania Abilinae tetrarcha, sub principibus sacerdotum Anna et Caipha: factum est verbum Domini super Ioannem, Zachariae filium, in deserto. Et venit in omnem regionem Iordanis, praedicans baptismum paenitentiae in remissionem peccatorum, sicut scriptum est in libro sermonum Isaiae Prophetae: Vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini: rectas facite semitas eius: omnis vallis implebitur: et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur: et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas: et videbit omnis caro salutare Dei.	Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high priests Annas and Caiphas: the word of the Lord was made unto John, the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of the Isaias the prophet: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight His paths: every valley shall be filled: and every mountain shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

OFFERTORY ¤ Luke 1. 28, 42
	Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui.	Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

SECRET
	Sacrificiis praesentibus, quaesumus Domine, placatus intende; ut et devotioni nostrae proficiant, et saluti. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	O Lord, we beseech Thee, look down favorably upon these present Sacrifices: that they may profit us both unto devotion and salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

PREFACE *Preface of Advent*
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum; quem, perdito humanum generi, Salvatorem misericors et fidelis promisisti, cuius veritas instrueret inscios, sanctitas iustificaret impios, virtus adiuvaret infirmos. Dum ergo prope est ut veniat quem missurus es, et dies affulget liberationis nostrae, in hac promissionum tuarum fide piis gaudiis exsultamus. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militiae caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should in all times, and in all places, give thanks to Thee, holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord. Whom Thou, clement and faithful, promised as a Savior to the lost race of men; Whose truth instructed the ignorant, Whose sanctity justified the impious, Whose virtues strengthened the weak. Therefore while the advent approaches of Him Who was sent, and the day of our liberation draws ever nearer, we exalt with pious joys in the confidence of Thy promises. And therefore, with angels and archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the host of the heavenly army, we sing a hymn to Thy glory, ever saying:
*Or the celebrant may say:*
*Preface of the Most Holy Trinity*
	Vere dignum et iustum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria, revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in maiestate adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:	It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION ¤ Isaias 7. 4
	Ecce Virgo concipiet et pariet filium: et vocabitur nomen eius Emmanuel.	Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son: and His name shall be called Emmanuel.

POSTCOMMUNION
	Sumptis muneribus, quaesumus Domine, ut cum frequentatione mysterii, crescat nostrae salutis effectus. Per Dominum nostrum, Iesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum.	Having received Thy gifts, we beseech Thee, O Lord: that as we frequent this Mystery, so the world of our salvation may advance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2015/12/20/fourth-sunday-of-advent/

Dec 20

“By Their Fruits you Shall Know Them”

December 20, 2015

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Dec 20

Judgment of the Cross is One of Love Dec. 18

December 20, 2015

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Dec 19

Jesus Knocks at Our Hearts

December 19, 2015

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Dec 18

Man Must Return to His Origin in God

December 18, 2015

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Dec 18

Theological Insight of the Nine Excesses of Love

December 18, 2015

Theological Insight of the Nine Excesses of Love

Christmas Novena

The “Nine Excesses” that led Jesus to incarnate Himself.

15/12/2015

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). With these words our thoughts immediately turn to Christmas that is coming and the desire to live, always with new emotions, the day when God made himself visible to man, in the likeness of a Child.

We know that the time of Advent is a time of grace to prepare ourselves spiritually to the Event, being careful to put the spotlight on the conception of the Holy Child, on His Incarnation.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38): This is the Fiat of Mary, “insignificant” woman in the eyes of her contemporaries, without which the Holy Trinity couldn’t make the Eternal Word descend upon earth and give rise to Redemption.

Mary, by possessing the Divine Will, had found grace before God and became the worthy dwelling to fulfill the miracle of the Incarnation: The Holy Trinity, by removing Justice and covering Themselves with the mantle of Mercy overflowed in her with love to form in her womb, through the encounter of the two Fiat, the creature would have to save humanity.

With a Novena of Holy Christmas (December 16 to 24), since the age of seventeen, Luisa prepared herself spiritually for the Feast of Holy Christmas, by contemplating and meditating on the excesses of love that led Jesus to incarnate Himself.

They are the first step towards the knowledge of the Kingdom of the Divine Will. They contain love and grace as they spring directly from the source of God’s love. They are the flames of His love that rise to create new love with which to conquer creatures.

Love, then, that renews and multiplies itself whenever new hearts are invested.

They are the treasure chest that contains all the merit of the Incarnation trough which Jesus comes to divinize man, to purify him. From His conception, taking all sins upon Himself, He comes to embody His Divinity on the Cross, starting His Way of the Cross, with the final triumph of Love !!

Every year Luisa remembered all phases of the mystery of the Incarnation, meditating and honoring the nine months that Jesus stood in the womb of Mary, in the following order that we briefly mention:

First Excess, Trinitarian Love: The angel announces to Mary that the Holy Trinity is sending upon earth the Son of Man who promptly obeys the Will of the Father and she, through the Holy Spirit, is the depository of this mystery and of goods that will spring.

Second Excess, Humble Love: A God so great and infinite who descends from Heaven and is restricted into the maternal womb. There He will stay for nine months, but His Divinity will remain imprisoned in His Humanity, for thirty three years, and then in the Eucharist.

Third Excess, Devouring Love: Flames of Love that rise to reach all generations, from the first to the last man. Seas (of Love) without boundary in which souls can swim freely.

Fourth Excess, Operative Love: Jesus, just newly “conceived”, takes upon Himself all souls and the burden (sins, ingratitude, passions) of each one of them. So, His Passion starts. His little head already feels the stings of the thorns that will surround his head and His immobility in the maternal womb anticipates His Crucifixion.

Fifth Excess, Lonely Love: God is forced to be alone, despite his several calls. He would like to speak to every soul to communicate and pour His love into her, but alas He is forced into silence. He descends from heaven to be in company of the creature but very few are those who welcome His coming and share Hs joys, His sorrows.

Sixth Excess, Repressed Love: Jesus, restricted in the prison and in the darkness of the maternal womb, can’t not show His love, His Light. All around is darkness and the sins of creatures add new darkness in which He is compelled to remain.

Seventh Excess, Supplicating Love: The ingratitude of man is the sharpest thorn for God, our Creator. However human obstinacy doesn’t stop His love from generating new excesses with imploring attitudes.

Eighth Excess, Begging Love: Even if God’s supplications don’t move the creature to love Him, He does not cease to have care of her and to conquer her, He passes on a greater excess and come to ask for a little love, to beg just as a poor man on the roadside.

Ninth Excess, Winner Love: Finally, Love will win. God remains faithful to Himself even at the cost of waiting for centuries. He will continue to dart through hearts with rays of sweetness and tenderness. He will conquer the creature and there will be the triumph of the Kingdom of His Divine Will.

Let us allow ourselves to be moved and taking advantage of this appropriate time, let us dispose ourselves to say with courage and faith our Yes, just like Mary with Her “Fiat” and Jesus with His “Here I am,” so that we can accomplish the project that our Heavenly Father has for each one in particular and for humanity in general, being always aware that we are all called to fulfill our Christian duty: to proclaim the Kingdom of God for the salvation of souls.

Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.