Cum Ortus

When the sun rises in the heavens you will see the king of kings. He comes forth from the Father like a bridegroom in splendour from his wedding chamber.

(Magnificat Antiphon for the I Vespers of Christmas)

O Lord our God, when we are afraid do not let us despair. When we are deluded do not let us become bitter. When we fall, enable us to stand. When we do not understand and when we feel weak do not let us loose sight of you. Enable us to feel your presence and your love that you have promised to humble and contrite hearts that trust in your Word. Enable us to love you as the bride loves the bridegroom coming from his wedding chamber.

Your Son has come for all of us, for all of us he was laid in a manger and nailed on the cross. Dear Lord enable us to realise the greatness of this gift, to accept it and to show it  in our lives.

You give us light stronger then that of the sun, we bring to you the darkness and the suffering that surround our time, the misunderstandings which torment so many, and all the heavy chains we weave and carry without seeking your consolation. We bring all the dangers that surround us. We bring to you the sick, the alienated, the poor, the oppressed, the victims of injustice, the suffering children, the broken of heart and mind. We bring to you those in authority and those who serve us in so many different ways. We bring this yto you while eagerly awaiting your Son, the promised one. When he comes may he shine in all hearts, may all hearts reflect that beautiful light of the silent and holy night. May all shine like the star that brought those who are wise to your Son. This we ask in his name. Amen.

We give thanks to God for giving us the grace of meditating daily on the O Antiphons. Each Antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin "Ero Cras" which means "Tomorrow I come." Those titles for Christ are:

Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium
Emmanuel

Ero Cras! Tomorrow I come! – Come Lord Jesus, do not delay!