I hope everyone is having a good time tonight. But I want to give a Christmas message to everyone who’s having a miserable time. If you went to Mass last night or this morning even though you’re still completely traumatized by the Church and felt no consolation whatever– you are amazing. Please know that Christ was thrilled to see you. If you were too sick to do anything but stay in bed today, again– you are loved. I hope you... Read more
 I wanted to get you a present. Yes, you. The one reading this. I wanted to get a Christmas present for everyone who reads this blog. I am so honored to know all of you– the patrons and donors who give monetary support to my ongoing work, all the fascinating people who teach me so much with their comments and private messages as well. I am so awed by every single one of you, and all the wonders you’ve... Read more
The Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ, from the Roman Martyrology: The Twenty-fifth Day of December, when ages beyond number had run their course from the creation of the world, when God in the beginning created heaven and earth, and formed man in his own likeness; when century upon century had passed since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood, as a sign of covenant and peace; in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father... Read more
 The O antiphon for December 23rd: 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 Come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel! The people who walked in darkness... Read more
 The O Antiphon for December 22nd: O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind. Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O... Read more
It’s the darkest night of the year. We made it. The light starts coming back from here on, at least astronomically speaking. It’ll get a little sunnier, day by day. I’m not having a party, I never have parties, but come in anyway. Sit under the SAD lamp and have a drink with me. It’s been a very dark year. I don’t honestly know that next year won’t be darker. It shows signs of being pretty dark for a long... Read more
The O Antiphon for December 21st: 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 come Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Thy people by Thine advent here! Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadow put to flight! Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!  The... Read more
 I will be back on later with my continuing Advent series on the O Antiphons. I’m getting them up a day early so you can plan ahead, so tonight’s, O Clavis David, is already up if you want to pray vespers now. Tomorrow’s antiphon, O Oriens, will be on later tonight or early tomorrow morning. But I have to take a moment and say something about the latest antics in President Trump’s never-ending push to build a wall across... Read more
 The O Antiphon for December 20th: 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 the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. O Come, Thou Key of David, come! And... Read more
 The O Antiphon for December 19th:  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’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! O come, Thou Rod of Jesse’s stem, From ev’ry foe deliver them That trust Thy mighty power to save, And give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel... Read more
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