After sorrow, joy

Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honor of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God.

God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honor.

For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.

For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honor of piety.

Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honor as children of the kingdom.

For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honor of God.

Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God.

For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.

The Prophecy of Baruch, Chapter 5

The entire world thrills with hope

Merry twelfth day of Christmas

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,
Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.

Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,
Comme autrefois une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les trois chefs d'Orient,
Le Roi des rois né dans la dépendance
En lui confond toute humaine grandeur

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance?
C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît,
Qu'Il souffre et meurt.

Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!


Midnight, Christians, 'tis the solemn hour,
When the Man-God descended upon us
To erase the stain of original sin
And His Father's wrath, to stop.
The entire world thrills with hope
On this night that gives it a Saviour.

Fall on your knees, people, Await your deliverance.
Noel! Noel! Comes the Redeemer,
Noel! Noel! Comes the Redeemer!

By our Faith which the guiding Light
That brings us all to the Child's cradle
As before when a bright star
Brought the Kings of the Orient
The King of Kings borne in a humble stable:
Masters of today, proud of your might
Of your conceit, is what God preaches about.
Bow your head to the Saviour.

The Redeemer has overcome every obstacle:
The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.
He sees a brother where there was only a slave.
Love unites those who surround the fire.
Who will tell Him of our gratitude?
It's for all of us that He is born,
That He suffers and dies.

People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,
Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer,
Noel, Noel, sing of the Redeemer!

How long until the Epiphany?

The Lord is come (Alleluia)
The humble have seen Him.
Where are the wise?

You wise and learned men,
rulers of nations,
delay no more!

What gifts do you bring
to the King of Kings?

He is born to be the salvation of all nations;
many out of all nations shall hear His call
and welcome Him with rejoicing.

Let us worship Him with the angels and saints,
Christ Jesus our Lord, our one Savior,
the same yesterday, and today, and to the ages of ages.

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus

Argent by the Tiber says:

Come, thou long expected indult -- found this header at Catholic Light and I haven't stopped humming the hymn Come, thou long-expected Jesus all day.

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.

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.

maranatha

marana tha - Come, Lord
maran atha - Our Lord comes

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And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Daniel 12:8

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Today is the start of Advent for most Catholics, but today's readings seem more an anticipation of our Lord's return at the end of all days than a remembrance of His coming in Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

First reading:
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
In those days, in that time,
I will raise up for David a just shoot;
he shall do what is right and just in the land.
In those days Judah shall be safe
and Jerusalem shall dwell secure;
this is what they shall call her:
“The LORD our justice.”

From the second reading:
May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
... so as to strengthen your hearts,
to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

From the Gospel:
“And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand. ...
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

maranatha

Morning in Rome?

Here in the United States, it is now the darkest part of the night. But in Rome, it is morning, and Fr. Tim Finigan is there, with words of hope. "Rome is awash with rumours" that at the Holy Father's insistence, our Lord's words in the consecration will be translated correctly in the vernacular novus ordo Masses around the world.

Lord, please grant that these rumors are true!

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Fr. Zuhlsdorf reports the same good news:

Three different well-placed sources I trust in Congregations here in Rome confirmed for me that the Holy Father made the determination that the words pro multis in the consecration of the Precious Blood will be properly translated, "for many", in the upcoming English text now in preparation. I had reason to be optimistic about this quite some time ago, but these confirmations go far beyond previous news.