Fourth Sunday in Advent (Rorate Coeli)

The Great “O” Antiphons of Advent

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As Christmas nears, the darkness deepens until we gather around candlelight on Christmas Eve to sing praise of the newborn King, the Light of the World.

As we discussed over the past four weeks, Advent is not only a season of preparation; it’s a penitential season where we examine our lives to confess the sins that weigh on us. It’s these sins that we cry out in the darkness of life, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!”

And Jesus does, He is God with us. This is the joy of Christmas, that Jesus took on human flesh to be our light throughout the days of this life, no matter how dark they may appear.

One tradition as the Church approaches Christmas is to pray the Great “O” Antiphons that accompany the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” For Sunday, the “O” Antiphon is:

O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting:
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death.

Join the Church in praying for the Light of Christ to come and free us from the fetters of sin.

Learn more about the Great “O” antiphons here.

Listen to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” here.

Blessed Advent,
Pastor Rogness