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<\/a>Before I became a Catholic, I had no idea what Advent meant. It was just another one of those weird, mysterious, Catholic words for a time in the year before Christmas. Nowadays, I appreciate it more because I understand that it commemorates the time when the people of Israel yearned for the Messiah.<\/p>\n
I yearn for Him too. Especially this time of year when Madison Avenue kicks the Christmas shopping season into high gear, and the radio stations start the post-Thanksgiving \u201cHoliday music\u201d songs playing 24\/7 \u00a0for the Christmas season, and the television hits us non-stop with must-have gift ideas.<\/p>\n
Because I don\u2019t want to shop just yet, nor do I wish to be humming Christmas carols either. Instead, I long for the coming of the Lord. In fact, my wife and I are headed to the Holy Land for the first two weeks of Advent. It is\u00a0a trip I\u2019ve been looking forward to<\/a>\u00a0taking for some time.<\/p>\n I\u2019m writing this post while riding in a bus filled with a group of like-minded pilgrims. Advent as a time of fasting and anticipation goes much better for me when I fast from the television and the radio.<\/p>\n And it is more meaningful when I pray for the coming of Our Lord in the manner suggested by the following verses translated by Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman<\/a>\u00a0(from works of anonymous authors from the 6th and 7th centuries).<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be praying these words tonight for Vespers and tomorrow for Matins and Lauds. Care to join me?<\/p>\n Advent\u2014Vespers.<\/i><\/b> Creator alme siderum<\/a>.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Advent\u2014Vespers. Creator alme siderum.<\/span><\/p>\n Creator of the starry pole,<\/span><\/p>\n Saviour of all who live,<\/span><\/p>\n And light of every faithful soul,<\/span><\/p>\n Jesu, these prayers receive.<\/span><\/p>\n Who sooner than our foe malign Should triumph,<\/span><\/p>\n from above Didst come,<\/span><\/p>\n to be the medicine<\/span><\/p>\n Of a sick world, in love;<\/span><\/p>\n And the deep wounds to cleanse and cure\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of a whole race, didst go,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pure Victim, from a Virgin pure,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The bitter Cross unto.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Who hast a Name, and hast a Power,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The height and depth to sway,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And Angels bow, and devils cower,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In transport or dismay ;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thou too shalt be our Judge at length;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lord, in Thy grace bestow\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thy weapons of celestial strength,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And snatch us from the foe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Honour and glory, power and praise,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To Father, and to Son,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And Holy Ghost, be paid always,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Eternal Three in One.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Amen. Alleluia.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Advent\u2014Matins.<\/b><\/i>\u00a0Verbum supernum prodiens<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Supernal Word,\u00a0<\/span>proceeding from<\/p>\n The Eternal Father\u2019s breast,<\/p>\n And in the end of ages come,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To aid a world distrest;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Enlighten, Lord, and set on fire\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our spirits with Thy love,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That, dead to earth, they may aspire\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And live to joys above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That, when the judgment-seat on high\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shall fix the sinner\u2019s doom,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And to the just a glad voice cry,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Come to your destined home;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Safe from the black and yawning lake\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of restless, endless pain,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We may the face of God partake,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The bliss of heaven attain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To God the Father, God the Son, And Holy Ghost, to Thee,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As heretofore, when time is done,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unending glory be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,<\/span><\/p>\n as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n world without end. Amen. Alleluia.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Advent\u2014Lauds.<\/b><\/i>\u00a0En clara vox redarguit<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Hark, a joyful voice is thrilling,<\/p>\n And each dim and winding way\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of the ancient Temple filling;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dreams, depart! for it is day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Christ is coming!\u2014from thy bed,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Earth-bound soul, awake and spring,\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With the sun new-risen to shed\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Health on human suffering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lo! to grant a pardon free,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Comes a willing Lamb from Heaven;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sad and tearful, hasten we,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One and all, to be forgiven.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Once again He comes in light,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Girding each with fear and woe;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lord! be Thou our loving Might,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From our guilt and ghostly foe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To the Father, and the Son,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And the Spirit, who in Heaven Ever witness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Three and One, Praise on earth be ever given.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n world without end. Amen. Alleluia.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s like the King David wrote in the thirty-seventh psalm, 1000 years before the Messiah came.\u00a0Wait for the Lord, and keep His way<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n\n