Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Preparing for Christmas; Praying the Great O-Antiphons of Advent

There are lots of Advent hymns but O Come, O Come Emmanuel is the most popular and it comes from the Great O antiphons that are sung after Vespers the last seven days of Advent (Dec. 17th - Dec. 23rd). See this beautiful creative project from Look to Him and be Radiant: O Antiphons Projects {Free Printables, Bible Study, and Google Classroom Projects}


Below, the complete text of the hymn. I find myself singing it while I prepare my home--after several years of not managing to get a tree (by Gaudete Sunday all the trees are gone) we got one earlier this Advent and had so much fun decorating it. It's been lovely to have the fresh Frasier fir in the house. My nativity set is all over the place--only the shepherd is in the creche :) I've also prepared a batch of Swedish glug (my father-in-law's recipe) and it is so delicious to sip it warm in the evenings as we watch the cats playing with the ornaments. We'll have a full house with the kids and as in several Christmases past, find myself again on deadline...so trying to remember to do a bit of work each day. May you have peace and joy as you prepare for these holy days and be comforted in knowing that our Lord comes to be with us in the messiness of our lives, to free us from sin, to make us whole again.



O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. 


O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go. Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain


O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain 


O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery. Refrain

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain 


O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain 



As much as it is fun to have Christmas concerts and parties, I'm grateful they are behind us so that we can regain the quietness of Advent. In our Catholic community, the real partying begins after Midnight Mass and lasts throughout the Octaves of Christmas and Epiphany!!! This week is actually ember week--with days of fasting. 

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Our Amazing Brain

The words of the year were Heal, Restore, Renew. And what a journey it has been. It began with an online retreat with Fr. Shawn Monahan during Advent: The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts - Oblates of the Virgin Mary. I wrote about it here: Vijaya Bodach: On Healing where I also reviewed key concepts in Be Healed: A Guide to Encountering the Powerful Love of Jesus in Your Life by Bob Schuchts. Truly, I am learning to become the person God created me to be.

We are body-mind-spirit and too often I have neglected the mental/emotional aspects. I began with the physical, then the spiritual, and over the years paying more attention to my mental health. 

The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by John Sarno really helped me to accept that my emotions could have caused the chronic migraines. The migraines became horrible during our conversion. Our pastor believed that it was a spiritual attack and I'm sure it was. Every time I've made a quantum leap in my spiritual journey, it's been preceded by horrible migraines. But there's another aspect that I totally ignored--my feelings. Going from a devil-may-care attitude to recognizing the evil within myself hurt deeply. It is a very good thing that the Holy Spirit does not reveal all our sins at once--we would die from the horror of it all. 

Some people might believe that Dr. Sarno is blaming the victim--it's absolutely not that. He writes, "It is important to avoid the pejorative conclusion that because emotions are implicated in etiology, patients are making themselves sick. This is no more logical than feeling guilty for "letting" bacteria into the body. People with psychogenic illness are not deliberately making themselves sick or pretending to be unwell. What we are seeing is the interplay of complicated processes, both physiological and psychological, outside the conscious awareness and control." See a summary of how repressed emotions contribute to chronic pain: Seven key lessons from “Healing Back Pain” by Dr. John Sarno. Of course, he encourages people to rule out physical issues but warns how Western medicine promotes a structural/physical basis of pain and then pills/surgery as the cure. Even functional medicine doctors promote this attitude looking for the root cause, which is well and good, but do not delve into the psyche of the person.

I remember that the first book I read about pain being caused in the brain itself was Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap out of Chronic Pain by David Hanscom. I wrote a lengthy review here: Vijaya Bodach: Chronic Migraines and Healing: Part I -- Back in Control. I have to return to those principles again and again. I recognize how writing and other creative pursuits saved my life. Deo gratias! See: Back in Control Roadmap - Back in Control

The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity by Norman Doidge was such a joy to read. Each chapter delves into a natural modality of healing, from doing the mental work to exercising mindfully to light therapy and my favorite: the special connection we have with music, what happens in the brain. The stories of people who've suffered from various neurological problems, who were given no hope by traditional Western medicine, but who experimented with other methods and found healing are so inspiring. If you have to read one book on our amazing brain, make it this one! 

The deeper I dive into studying the brain, the more I'm in awe of how beautifully we are designed. Caroline Leaf reminds us of this in her book Switch on Your Brain: the Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health. Our thoughts can actually change the structure of our brains. I really liked that she ties together Biblical principles with science (though some of her science could use more precision).

I'm trying not to make an idol out of my health but I am grateful for the better health I'm enjoying and for the countless blessings God has showered upon me. Peace is the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness by Maureen Pratt reminds me to be more accepting of how things are. Not perfect! 

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Advent

I finally got some holders for our tapered Advent candles and it's hard to believe how quickly time is marching on. Next weekend will be Gaudete Sunday--Rejoice! Last year our beloved Stella Maris got flooded that Sunday morning so evening High Mass was canceled. But with many helping hands, the church was readied for Christmas! It was the shortest Advent too, with Christmas falling on a Monday.

We've had a busy Advent so far with recorder and barbershop concerts, getting together with friends, most special treat, going to The Messiah by George Frederich Handel right here at St. Clare of Assisi. It was so lovely to be able to walk to church to listen to the production by the Charleston Symphony. Simply beautiful! 

And just when I thought I cannot add another thing to do, I'm finding it extraordinary how the Lord draws me ever closer to Himself. These retreats finally became available (I'd wanted to do them in the summer) and I also know that the Lord's timing is always perfect, so I'm taking the time to do this now and I am so grateful: The Path to Healing Our Broken Hearts - Oblates of the Virgin Mary Perhaps you too need to make a retreat. And when you're ready, you might want to check these out: Virtual Workshops - Oblates of the Virgin Mary  

 


Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! It's the story of how Mary appeared to a Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyec, Mexicao, with a request to take to the bishop. He was reluctant but he obeyed and on Dec. 12, 1531, she arranged Castillian roses in his tilma as a sign that the bishop had requested. When Juan Diego showed them to the bishop, her image was on his tilma. The tilma of St. Juan Diego is displayed in Mexico and there are so many interesting features within it. Including music! There is music embedded in her mantle. Harpa Dei, an ensemble of four siblings, composed the text between Mary and St. Juan Diego based on his account:
 Harpa Dei · Mantle Song (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
 Enjoy! Happy Feast Day!

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Advent: A Time for Waiting, Praying and Singing

One of my favorite ways to prepare for Christmas is to pray 15x/day beginning on the Feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas Eve:
Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayers and grant my desires (mention your intentions here), through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen. 
It places me immediately at the manger and into the mystery of Christmas. So many prayers have been answered over the years. Deo gratias! I love how succinctly Enid M. Chadwick depicts Advent (and other feasts and other Anglo-Catholic traditions) in My Book of the Church's Year.

A couple of years ago, I learned the delightful story below about Gregorian chant. Our choir director sings the trope that tells how the Holy Ghost whispered into the ear of Pope St. Gregory in response to his prayer and then we all come in for the Introit for the first Sunday of Advent, Ad te levavi... When I poked around to learn more, I came across the art here
Translation: When the most holy Gregory poured out prayers to the Lord that He might surrender to him from above a musical gift in song then the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove and enlightened his heart to such a degree that at last he began to sing saying this: Ad te levavi... (Introit for the first Sunday of Advent). A most blessed Advent to all.

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Longing

I long so much for the words of the prayer that our Lord Jesus taught us: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven to come true. Now! How long, O Lord? For consolation I listen to Miserere mei (Psalm 50/51) and sing the beautiful Advent hymn, Rorate Caeli to myself all the time and for a truly beautiful polyphonic setting by William Byrd of the first verse (Ne irascaris Domine) listen to Voces8. 

I'm in Texas. This young woman is flying the nest--I'm so proud of her.



LatinEnglish
Roráte caéli désuper,
et núbes plúant jústum.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above,
and let the skies pour down righteousness.

Ne irascáris Dómine,
ne ultra memíneris iniquitátis:
ecce cívitas Sáncti fácta est desérta:
Síon desérta fácta est, Jerúsalem desoláta est:
dómus sanctificatiónis túæ et glóriæ túæ,
ubi laudavérunt te pátres nóstri.

Be not wroth very sore, O Lord,
neither remember iniquity for ever:
thy holy city is a wilderness,
Sion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation:
our holy and our beautiful house,
where our fathers praised thee.

Peccávimus, et fácti súmus tamquam immúndus nos,
et cecídimus quasi fólium univérsi:
et iniquitátes nóstræ quasi véntus abstulérunt nos:
abscondísti faciem túam a nóbis,
et allisísti nos in mánu iniquitátis nóstræ.

We have sinned, and are as an unclean thing,
and we all do fade as a leaf:
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away:
thou hast hid thy face from us:
and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

Víde Dómine afflictiónem pópuli túi,
et mítte quem missúrus es:
emítte Agnum dominatórem térræ,
de Pétra desérti ad móntem fíliæ Síon:
ut áuferat ípse júgum captivitátis nóstræ.

Behold, O Lord, the affliction of thy people,
and send forth him whom thou wilt send;
send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth,
from Petra of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion:
that he may take away the yoke of our captivity.

Vos testes mei, dicit Dóminus,
et servus meus quem elégi;
ut sciátis, et credátis mihi:
ego sum, ego sum Dóminus, et non est absque me salvátor:
et non est qui de manu mea éruat.

Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,
and my servant whom I have chosen;
that ye may know me and believe me:
I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour:
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

Consolámini, consolámini, pópule méus:
cito véniet sálus túa:
quare mæróre consúmeris,
quia innovávit te dólor?
Salvábo te, nóli timére,
égo enim sum Dóminus Déus túus,
Sánctus Israël, Redémptor túus.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people;
my salvation shall not tarry:
why wilt thou waste away in sadness?
why hath sorrow seized thee?
Fear not, for I will save thee:
For I am the Lord thy God,
the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving and Advent

What joy for us to have our kids home for Thanksgiving. There was much revelry, tasting of the last of the garden goodies, Michael's home brews, trying to pet scaredy cats, and of course, giving thanks to God for all our blessings. Hard to believe it's Advent already: To You I lift up my soul: in You, O my God, I trust... (Ps. 24:1)  Come Lord Jesus!



 

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Gaudete!

There is so much to celebrate right now! The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Gaudete Sunday--actually all of it falls in the octave of the Immaculate Conception. And truly, our country needs the prayers of our Lady, our Mother Mary to draw us near the Christ-Child. Oh, that He would make His home in our poor hearts. Dec. 8th was a very special night for us at Sacred Heart Catholic Church where we had a High Mass. Fr. West has been introducing his parish to the Latin Mass and we're grateful to be able to help build it up. Later we stopped at a brewery to sample their wares. 

Our Advent is low-key but busy with music preparation and sending out Christmas cards but I love how the focus is on preparation. Our pastor always reminds us of the wisdom of Holy Church to not try to celebrate Christmas until the Midnight Mass. He is near, and nearer still to the people who suffer. Take heart. Rejoice!

Some photos of our Advent: Bees too are preparing--they huddle and shiver and keep the hive warm. They have their honey stores for winter, though when it's warm in the afternoon I see them flying out to collect pollen and nectar. My shoulder is healing well and physical therapy is helping tremendously. I've stopped using the brace unless I need it. My orthopedic surgeon gave me the green light to start using those atrophied muscles. Michael jokes, "what muscles?" 

I bought this Catholic weekly planner from Angelus Press and love how well it's designed with liturgical feasts listed, some saints highlighted, space for daily, weekly, monthly notes. Perfect for my needs. And I already started using it because it begins on Dec. 1st. I'm reading a lot more too, but I won't post pictures of the books because...they're gifts for my family :) Do you have any to recommend?   



 

Friday, December 20, 2019

Reading

I've read so many interesting books this fall so let me share the best if you are looking for a gift for a young child or writer in your life. I recommend all these but one, as you'll see. 

Silent Night by Brigitte Weninger and Julie Wintz-Litty is a beautiful story of this beloved Christmas carol. Will it be ready in time for Midnight Mass? 

Hanukkah is right around the corner and what better way than to celebrate with a new book: Kugel for Hanukkah? by Gretchen Everin. I reviewed it earlier. You might think it strange for a Catholic to be interested in a Jewish holiday but you have to realize that Catholics honor these Maccabean martyrs as saints. The story is documented in Maccabees 1 and 2 and part of Scripture that's read in church. Jesus Christ celebrated Hannukah (see John 10:22-23). I do so love how the Jewish and Catholic faiths dovetail. They each illuminate the other.

I came across a gem on the Picture Book Builders blog: The Lost Words by Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris. I immediately ordered it for our library and they were all oohing and aahing over it when I came to pick it up. It is a gorgeous book. Enjoy! 



Our local newspaper ran an interview with John Conley, author of Daniel Island Unearthed and I was so impressed I got a copy for myself. It's a field guide to the artefacts one can dig up. I love living here. 



Try not to throw up at the next picture. It was completely coincidental that these next three books ended up in a pile together. I was re-reading On Writing Well by William Zinsser for a nonfiction workshop and James' Fifty Shades (it is truly awful and also pornographic) ended up in the same pile of library books. I wanted to skim through it because of a very interesting book, The Bestseller Code by Jodi Archer and Matthew Jockers, that was first discussed on Writer Unboxed by Keith Cronin. Almost all of us know the elements of a good story instinctively; we respond to them in books and movies, and as writers we analyze them. What Archer and Jockers did was to feed bestselling books to a computer and have it spit out patterns. We know that our characters must go through trials, have ups and downs, but the essence of the bestselling book is that these emotional ups and downs need to happen at regular intervals. What was fascinating was how similar the curves were for Fifty Shades (romance) and the Da Vinci Code (thriller). The only difference lies in the end. Da Vinci ends on an up-note whereas Fifty Shades plummets because it's the setup for the sequel. I found The Bestseller Code very enjoyable and informative and I think we all can learn from it and the bestselling books. Fortunately, not all bestsellers are poorly written. There's enough variety for people with different tastes. 


I'd read reviews of My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, calling it darkly comic. I didn't want to read it. Yet another discussion on Writer Unboxed piqued my interest. I didn't find it funny at all. It is a beautifully written story about two sisters, one who is beautiful and attracts men like honey, and the other who literally cleans up her messes. My heart ached for the narrator because how well I understand those deep familial bonds, but I also wanted her to have a true and faithful love. I wanted to rewrite the ending on a more hopeful note. The author is a poet and you can tell because of the spare and beautiful language she uses to tell a story that lingers in one's heart long after you've closed the book.

The title of Jordan Peterson cracks me up because even God gave only Ten Commandments. The men's reading group has been going through 12 Rules for Life this fall. Max was the first to read it in our family--it was his birthday present last year. This is one of the few books by psychologists that actually makes sense. So much common sense.

I always pick up extra copies of Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren whenever I see them at the thrift store. It's one of the best books I've ever read in developing a deeper relationship with Christ. It makes a wonderful Lenten or Advent meditation or let's face it, anytime meditation. Last year I discovered a companion journal at the library book sale and it was in pristine condition. What a treasure. It's been a God-send.


 



Finally, I want to draw your attention to a slim gem of a book that I discovered on Kristi's blog: it's a meditation on the Prayer of Jabez. It is beautiful and it reminds me very much of John 10:10 I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. The Christian life is that of abundance! May you have the peace and joy and blessings in abundance. 

I'm writing Christmas cards and listening to beautiful Advent music. One of my favorites is Rorate Caeli and the reflection by Msgr. Charles Pope is so lovely, as is the plainchant and Byrd arrangement of the first verse sung by Voces8. I've been captivated by this group ever since I listened to their Ave Maria. Of course, I'm also practicing our Christmas menu for choir. But it won't be Christmas until the kids are home--soon, soon!