Domestic Church

"The Second Vatican Council calls the family the 'Ecclesia domestica', the domestic Church, teaching that parents are 'by word and example...the first heralds of the faith with regard to their children.'" (CCC1656)

Rejoice! Today is Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. Gaudete is Latin for "Rejoice," which is the first word in the traditional entrance antiphon for today's Mass. We are more than halfway through Advent, and the coming of the Lord is at hand. So rejoice today as you light the pink candle on your Advent wreath and sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel together. (for more on Gaudete Sunday, check out this Catholic Encyclopedia article: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06394b.htm )

Entrance antiphons were sung or chanted by the choirs in the earliest Masses as the priest entered the church. Particular antiphons were assigned to each day of the liturgical year, and they introduce the theme of each Mass. Antiphons are also sung during the Liturgy of the Hours every day of the year. Special antiphons from Evening Prayer are on the way this week as we start what are called the "O Antiphons". In the Octave (group of 8 days) before Christmas, these antiphons each begin with an attribute of Christ, the coming Messiah. They are:

December 17 - O Wisdom (symbol: book)

December 18 - O Lord and leader of Israel (symbol: fire, burning bush)

December 19 - O Flower of Jesse (symbol: flower--maybe a poinsettia or a Christmas rose)

December 20 - O Key of David (symbol: key)

December 21 - O Radiant Dawn (symbol: rising sun, light: go out and enjoy the Christmas lights tonight)

December 22 - O King of the Gentiles (symbol: crown)

December 23 - O Emmanuel (symbol: creche, but you could also relate this to the Holy Eucharist: "God with us": a holy card or picture of the Blessed Sacrament could be placed on the table)

If you go to http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/veni_veni_emanuel.htm you will see the original Latin verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Each of the verses starts with one of the O Antiphons and expresses our great love and longing for the Savior. The richness of our Catholic faith--the connections between song and liturgy and human desires for God--are again shown to us in the beautiful tradition of the O Antiphons.

Share the O Antiphons with your family this year. Each night, you can place a symbol of the antiphon on the table at dinnertime, read the full antiphon before your meal prayer (available here: http://www.wf-f.org/OAntiphons.html and here: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0374.html), and keep singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

Rejoice!