Saint Joseph Catholic Church
Saint Vincent de Paul Office: 270-247-1598
Pregnancy Help Center 270-247-3190
“May the message of mercy reach everyone,
and may no one be indifferent to the call to experience mercy.” – Pope Francis
PARISH PASTORAL STAFF
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE &RECONCILIATION
Father Eric D Riley, Pastor
cscarbrough@kyn.twcbc.com
Saturday, 4:40 PM; Sunday, 7:40 AM; 10:10 AM; 12:00 PM and
after the Weekend Masses.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Parents should contact their Pastor soon after the birth of the child
to schedule a Baptism and preparatory class.
marmstrong@kyn.twcbc.com
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY
fr.riley@kyn.twcbc.com
Deacon Michael Clapp, Pastoral Associate
deacon.clapp@kyn.twcbc.com
Christie Scarbrough, Business Manager
Melissa Armstrong, Director of Religious Education
Madre Eloisa Torralba Aquino, Pastoral Associate
sreloisatorralba@rocketmail.com
Madre Maria Luisa Morales Solano, Pastoral Assistant
mar_sol_1294@yahoo.com
Wanda Shelby, Custodian
Alfredo Gonzalez, Carlos Ramirez, Roof Maintenance
OUR TIME & TALENT STEWARDSHIP
SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2015
-Adult Bible Study – 9:05-10:15 AM – Parish Center
-CRSP Hombres 1-3 – 9:30 AM-12:00 PM – 2 REB
nd
-CRSP Hombres 4 – 3:00 PM – 2nd REB
TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2015
-Prophets: Messengers of God’s Mercy - 6-7:30 PM - PC
-Grupo de San Pio – 6:00 PM – Apartment
-CRSP Mujeres 1 –6:30-8 PM– 2nd REB
WEDNESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2015
-Grupa de Santa Rita – 6:00 PM – Apartment
-Grupo de Oración de Los Hombres – 6 PM 2 Reb
THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2015
-CRSP Mujeres 2 –6:30-8 PM– 2 REB
nd
-Los Profetas: Misioneros de la Misericordia - 7-8:30 PM - PC
FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2015
nd
-Adoration – 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM – Church
-Bi-lingual EP, Benediction, Communion – 5:30 PM
-Advent Parish Penance Service – 6 PM – Church
SATURDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2015
-Coro – 1:00 PM – Church
SUNDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2015
-Adult Bible Study – 9:05-10:15 AM – Parish Center
-CRSP Hombres 1-3 – 9:30 AM-12:00 PM – 2nd REB
-CRSP Hombres 4 & 5 – 3:30 PM – 2nd REB
OUR LITURGICAL STEWARDSHIP
19-20 December 2015
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Emmalene Hayden; Pauline Russelburg
5:00 PM
Nancy Lancaster; Noreen Mazzoni
8:00 AM
Nancy Ballard; Michael Elliott
10:30 AM
The Bishop of Owensboro requires couples to contact their Pastor
at least six months prior to the desired wedding date to schedule
preparatory classes.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Contact the Pastor to learn more about the Catholic Faith.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - GAUDETE SUNDAY – 13 DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER: MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
MASS & COMMUNION SERVICE SCHEDULE –DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS
Saturday
Sabado
Sunday
Sunday
Monday
12 December
12 Diciembre
13 December
13 December
14 December
5:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
8:00 AM
Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
Guadalupe; Apocalypsis 11:19-12:10; Lk (Lc) 1:26-38
Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7
Gaudete Sunday; Luke 3:10-18
St John of Cross; Numbers 24:2-17; Mt 21:23-27
Soul of Jean Dublin
Para los Feligreses
Soul of John Mark Merrell
Soul of Robert Elliott
Communion Service
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday
15 December
16 December
17 December
18
December
18 December
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
8:00
AM
6:00 PM
Zephaniah 3:1-13; Matthew 21:28-32
Isaiah 45:6-25; Luke 7:18-23
Genesis 49:2-10; Matthew 1:1-17
Jeremiah
23:5-8;
Matthew
1:18-25
Parish Advent
Penance
Service
Soul of Fr Ben Luther
Soul of Emma Meadows
Soul of Leon Thompson
Soul of Cecil Crider
Saturday
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Domingo
19 December
19 December
20 December
20 December
20 Diciembre
5:00 PM
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
12:30 PM
Judges 13:2-25; Luke 1:5-25
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Micah 5:1-4; Hebrews 10:5-10
Fourth Sunday of Advent; Luke 1:39-45
Cuarto Domingo de Adviento
Soul of Bill Kilcoyne
Soul of Vickie Cruse
Soul of Heather Mason
Para los Feligreses
Readers
5:00 PM
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Lisa Isbell
Joyce Carrico; Kacey Carrico
Nancy Wilson; Christie Henson
Servers
5:00 PM
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
None
None
Nickolaus Klar
Collection Bearers
Allen & Kathy Thompson
5:00 PM
Tony & Jennifer Smith
8:00 AM
Matt Hayden Family
10:30 AM
Ushers
5:00 PM
8:00 AM
L Ellison; S Ellison; A Lamb; C Lamb
10:30AM
D Kilkoyne; J Lynn; M Lynn; J Wilson
K Alexander; P Brooks; R Garcia; J Sanchez
AN ADVENT PRAYER – COME THOU LONG EXPECTED
Musicians/Cantors
Michael Skinner; Diane Hayden
5:00 PM
Michael Skinner; Diane Hayden
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Michael Skinner; Diane Hayden
Vocations Crucifix
13 December
20 December
Elaine Thomas
Belinda Toon
Church Cleaners – 19 December 2015 – Code 2843
Christa Buck; Candice Cochrum; Debbie Buck; Lauren Ellison
Born Thy people to deliver,
born a Child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne. Amen.
DIOCESE OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY OFFICE OF SAFE ENVIRONMENT – The Diocese of Owensboro seeks to
help all people who have been sexually abused by a person working for the Church. Copies of the policy with forms
to report an incident of abuse are available from the parish office or from the Catholic Pastoral Center (270.852.8353)
or www.rcdok.org/safe_environment. To report abuse Kentucky Child Protection Hot Line: 1-877-597-2331
Saint Joseph, Foster-father of Jesus, help us to protect our children from all abuse.
PAGE 1 OF 8
Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
PAGE 2 OF 8
Why Confess Your Sins to a Catholic Priest?
III.
“Only God forgives sins” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1441). “Christ willed that in Her life and action His
whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that He acquired for us
at the price of His Blood. But He entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry
which He charged with the “ministry of reconciliation” (CCC, 1442). “In imparting to His apostles His own
power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial
dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ’s solemn words to Simon Peter: ‘I will give you the
keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’ The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peterwas also
assigned to the college of the apostles [succeeded by bishops] united to its head” (CCC, 1444). Priests, working
with the bishops, have been given the power to forgive sins by Jesus Himself. Some people say, “I confess my
sins directly to God.” That is great! Jesus, the Son of God, said that one who wants to confess their sins to
God ought to confess their sins to the priest who stands in the Person of Christ the Head of the Body. It’s His
IV.
will, not a priest or pope’s idea of how it should be done. Confess your sins to Christ, the Priest; He is the only
one who can absolve you, and with His own Blood wash away the sins of your life.
An Examination of Conscience
I.
II.
I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.
Apostasy (leaving the Church by formal act)
Involvement in false or pagan worship
Willfully denying the Faith of the Catholic
Practicing or involvement in the occult,
Church
witchcraft, ouija boards, seances, palm reading,
Despair of God’s grace and mercy
tarot cards, divination, astrology, black magic,
Presumption (committing a mortal sin with the
sorcery, New Age or Eastern philosophies,
idea that you can just go to confession
atheism, agnosticism
afterward)
Adherence to a schismatic (separated from the
Hatred of God
Church) group
Simony (buying or selling spiritual things)
Putting faith in superstition, e.g. horoscopes,
Desecration of the Holy Eucharist, sacred
good luck charms, etc.
places, objects or persons
Joining the Masons or other secret society
Intentionally neglecting prayers and
Receiving Holy Communion in the state of
mortal sin
prayerfulness
while in the
from God what
Receiving the other Sacraments
Intentionally withholding
state of mortal sin
rightfully belongs to Him
Marrying outside the laws of the
Church
Catholic
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
confession
Using God’s Name intentionally in a curse
Seriously wishing evil upon another
Blasphemy (words of hatred, reproach or
Serious slander of a sacred person (pope,
defiance toward God)
bishop, priest, sister, brother)
Perjury (lying under oath); Swearing false oaths
Telling a lie or withholding a serious sin in
PAGE 3 OF 8
V.
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Missing Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of
Obligation without a serious reason
Intentionally arriving at Mass late/leaving early
without serious cause
Willfullybecoming distracted/distracting others
at Mass
Doing unnecessary work on Sunday for a long
period of time
Intentional failure to fast or abstain on
appointed days
Requiring employees/students/children to
work on Sunday in nonessential occupations
Placing sporting events, leisure activities,work,
school ahead of God and family on Sundays
and Holy Days
Failing to spend time in prayer and meditation
on the Lord’s day
Honor your father and mother.
Serious failure to care for aged parents
Serious neglect of the duties of one’s state in
life
Serious disrespect for or disobedience to
parents, superiors, the pope and bishops
(successors to the apostles) or authorities
Wishing death or evil on parents or those with
legitimate authority
Abuse or neglect of children
Failure to baptize children in a reasonable time
after birth
Serious neglect of the religious education or
upbringing of children
Failure to carry out the last morally sound will
of deceased parents
You shall not kill.
Murder, homicide or manslaughter
Procurement of an abortion (all thoseinvolved
in directly seeking and carrying out the
procurement)
Knowingly voting for someone who is proabortion because you agree with and support the
proabortion
stand, supporting organizations that
are inherently set against the teaching of the
Roman Catholic Church regarding respect for
life, Whose authority resides in the authority
of Christ
Willfully injuring or trying to hurt another
person or tempting another person to sin
Driving dangerously, recklessly, under
the
influence of drugs/alcohol
Willfully harboring hatred of
another Taking or selling illegal
drugs
PAGE 4 OF 8
Willful drunkenness
Self-mutilation: especially, excessive tattoos or
body piercing; piercing with the intention of
use in sexual stimulation
Sterilization; having the sole intent to render
one’s self incapable of procreation
Promotion of or involvement in euthanasia
(killing of the sick)
Entertainment of suicidal thoughts:
attempting/intending suicide
Willful failure to bury the body or ashes of
the
dead
Willful engagement in unjust lawsuits
Bigotry (hatred of persons of other races,
colors or creeds)
VI.
You shall not commit adultery.
Adultery (illicit sexual relations between two
people, one of whom is bound by marriage;
including divorced persons who remain in a
valid marriage bond)
Fornication (illicit sexual relations between two
people, neither of whom is presently bound by
marriage)
Incest
Masturbation or other impure acts with one’s
self or with another
Homosexual acts
Use of contraceptives by males or females
Dressing or acting in a manner intended to
cause arousal in another (spouses excepted)
Kissing or touching another passionately for
the purpose of arousal (spouses excepted)
Allowing another to kiss or touch you in a
sexual manner (spouses excepted); those who
are forced upon are not guilty of any sin, the
grave sin resides with the aggressor
Intentionally causing a sexual climax outsideof
intercourse (including onanism)
Bestiality
Forms of degrading sexual practices ought to
be avoided even as foreplay within marriage
Prostitution (as well as employing a prostitute)
Rape (as applies to the aggressor)
In-vitro fertilization or artificial insemination
Surrogate motherhood
“Selective reduction” of babies in the womb
Types of fertility testing that involve immoral
acts
Involvement in or support of human cloning
Willful divorce or desertion
Polygamy or polyandry (many wives/husbands)
Cohabitation prior to marriage
Destroying the innocence of another by
seducing or introducing them to immorality
Lust in the heart (“If I could, I would”)
Any sexual relations outside the marriage
covenant, even with spouse approval
Transvestism or cross-dressing
VIII.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
False witness (not under oath) or perjury (under
(harming the reputation of another by
oath)
falsities)
Telling large or premeditated lies
Violation of a confidence without good
Serious gossip, detraction (revealing the faults
reason Being an accomplice to another’s grave
sin
of another without serious reason) or calumny
IX.
You shall not desire your neighbor’s wife.
Viewing pornography in books, magazines,
movies, the internet, etc.
Reading sexually explicit materials
X.
You shall not desire your neighbor’s goods.
Serious and willful greed or avarice
(covetousness: desiring what is not yours)
3.
PAGE 5 OF 8
when able to help them easily
Defrauding creditors
Bribery or taking bribes
Blackmail
Fraud or embezzlement
Price fixing
Tax evasion
Forgery
Excessive waste or expense
Violating copyrights (i.e. computer software,
music, videotapes)
Slavery
Serious cruelty to animals over which God has
given us dominion
Intention to steal or destroy the goods of
another
How to go to Confession
1.
2.
VII. You shall not steal.
Stealing a large amount of money or a valuable
item
Willfully destroying or defacing another’s
property
Stealing something consecrated to God or from
a holy place
Buying, selling, receiving or concealing items
known to be stolen
Willful failure to make restitution
Excessive gambling
Defrauding workers of their wages
Serious failure to fulfill work requirements
Padding expense or per diem accounts
Taking advantage of the poor, simple,
inexperienced or less fortunate
Denying help to the poor, needy or destitute
Dwelling on impure thoughts or fantasies for
the purpose of arousal
Willfully lusting after another
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The priest will begin with the sign of the cross.
The penitent begins by saying, “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (amount of time) since
my last confession. These are my sins.”
Confess all mortal sins committed since your last confession and (to the best of your knowledge) how
many times you have committed each sin. You may also confess any venial sins. However, in either case,
there is no need to give lengthy explanations of the sins. Nor is there a reason to make excuses.
At the end of your confession say these or similar words: “That is all.”
The priest may ask questions for clarification or give you some counsel on a point from your confession.
The priest will give you a penance.
The penitent makes an act of contrition in these or similar words:
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just
punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who is all good and deserving of all
my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of
sin. Amen.”
The priest, who acts in the Person of Christ, will absolve you of your sins. “...in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, make the sign of the cross.
The priest may say, “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” Your response would be, “His mercy
endures forever.”
Parish Penance Service – Friday, 18 December 2015, 6:00 PM
Confessions: Saturdays 4:40 PM; Sundays 7:40 AM & 10:10 AM; and after Weekend Masses
PAGE 6 OF 8
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM FATHER RILEY
PROPHETS - Messengers of God’s Mercy – Tuesday 6:25-7:30 PM in the Parish Center. All are welcome. If you are coming this
week you will want to read the Prophet Isaiah Chapters 40-66 in preparation for the class.
What Are the “O Antiphons”?
By Fr William Saunders
The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the
Hours. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, December 17-23, with December 24 being
Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil.
OUR SYMPATHY & PRAYERS - are extended to Milton Hicks, Diane (Jimmy) McIntyre, & Edward Hicks and families in the
passing of their wife & mother, Joyce Hicks, to the judgement seat of the Almighty God this past week. Eternal rest grant
unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
The exact origin of the O Antiphons is not known. Boethius (c. 480-524) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence
at that time. At the Benedictine abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey
leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they are in use in the liturgical
celebrations in Rome. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the O Antiphons have been part of our liturgical tradition since the
very early Church.
OUR SYMPATHY & PRAYERS - are extended to Deacon Clapp (Mary) & Family in the passing of his father, Macon E Clapp,
to the judgement seat of the Almighty God this past week. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine
upon him. May their soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The importance of O Antiphons is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O
Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and
O Emmanuel (O God-is-with-us). Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. Let us now look at each
antiphon with just a sample of Isaiah’s related prophecies :
CONGRATULATIONS& WELCOME - to Darvin Towery, who celebrated the Holy Sacraments of Initiation into Full Communion
with the Catholic Church this past Sunday. May Darvin always find a place at the Table of the Lord and may he inspire us
by living out his God-given vocation in Faith, Hope and Charity.
O Sapientia: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, You govern all creation with Your strong yet tender care. Come and show Your people the
way to salvation. Isaiah had prophesied, The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of
counsel
and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and His delight shall be the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2-3), and Wonderful is His
counsel and great is His wisdom. (Isaiah 28:29).
O Adonai: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, Who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, Who gave him the holy Law on Sinai
mountain: come, stretch out Your mighty hand to set us free. Isaiah had prophesied, But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide
aright for the lands afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the
wicked. Justice shall
be the band around His waist, and faithfulness a belt upon His hips. (Isaiah 11:4-5); and Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes
the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, He it is Who will save us. (Isaiah 33:22).
O Radix Jesse: O Flower of Jesse’s stem, You have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations
bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid. Isaiah had prophesied, But a shoot shall sprout
from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. (Isaiah 11:1), and On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the
nations, the
Gentiles shall seek out, for His dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah
had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).
O Clavis David: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at Your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls
of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead Your captive people into freedom. Isaiah had prophesied, I will
place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when He opens, no one will shut, when He shuts, no one will open. (Isaiah 22:22),
and His
dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which He confirms and sustains by judgment and justice,
both now and forever. (Isaiah 9:6).
O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Isaiah had prophesied, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has
shown. (Isaiah 9:1).
PARISH PENANCE SERVICE – Friday, 18 December 2015, 6:00 PM. There will be two visiting priests on this night.
As we enter the Jubilee Year of Mercy, I encourage all of us to make a good confession as we look forward to sharing mercy
with others. If we deny God’s work of mercy in, and His institution of, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, it is
time for us to reconsider how well we understand the Faith we profess. Celebrating the Sacrament of Penance and
Reconciliation is a necessary part of the life of anyone who is honestly professing the Catholic Faith. During the Year of
Mercy, I am adding extra opportunities for confessions at the end of each weekend Mass. I will not be outside the church
after Masses, but in the confessional so that, with confessions before and after Masses on the weekends, all active
Parishioners can say that they have the opportunity to encounter the Divine Mercy of God. The only one who can separate
us from the mercy of the God the Father offered in relationship with Christ Jesus through the grace of the Holy Spirit, is us.
Though it is difficult to admit our guilt and convert to a more faithful way of life, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to come
to the Merciful Lord. He wills only to heal and restore, not to condemn and destroy.
Confessions: Saturdays 4:40 PM; Sundays 7:40 AM & 10:10 AM; and after Weekend Masses
THE GIVING TREE – Thank you to all who have shown acts of mercy to those in need during this holy season.
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION – we will celebrate the birth of the children we have adopted as we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child. Gifts for
the babies may be brought (unwrapped) on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, 3 January 2016. The donated baby items will be given
to the Hope Center of Mayfield.
JUBILEE OF MERCY LOGO & MOTTO – (front cover) together provide a fitting summary of what the Jubilee Year is all about. The motto
Merciful Like the Father (taken from the Gospel of Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who
asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure (cfr. Lk 6:37-38). The logo presents a
small catechesis of the theme of mercy. It represents an image quite important to the early Church: the Son having taken upon His
shoulders the lost soul demonstrating that it is the love of Christ that brings to completion the mystery of His Incarnation culminating
in Redemption. The logo has been designed in such a way so as to express the profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the
flesh of humanity and does so with a love with the power to change one’s life. One particular feature worthy of note is that while the
Good Shepherd, in His great mercy, takes humanity upon Himself, His eyes are merged with those of man. Christ sees with the eyes of
Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ. Every person discovers in Christ, the new Adam, one’s own humanity and the future that lies
ahead, contemplating, in His gaze, the love of the Father. The scene is captured within the so called mandorla (the shape of an almond),
a figure quite important in early and medieval iconography, for it calls to mind the two natures of Christ, divine and human. The three
concentric ovals, with colors progressively lighter as we move outward, suggest the movement of Christ Who carries humanity out of
the night of sin and death. Conversely, the darker color suggests the impenetrability of the love of the Father Who forgives all.
PAGE 7 OF 8
O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the
creature you fashioned from the dust. Isaiah had prophesied, For a Child is born to us, a Son is given us; upon His shoulder dominion rests.
They name Him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5), and He shall judge between the nations, and
impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise
the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. (Isaiah 2:4) .
O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. Isaiah had
prophesied, The Lord Himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel.
(Isaiah 7:14). Remember Emmanuel means God is with us.
According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with
a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai,
Sapientia
- the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, Tomorrow, I will come. Therefore, the Lord Jesus, Whose coming we have prepared for in
Advent and Whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, Tomorrow, I will come. So the O Antiphons not only
bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
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