Celebrating at home Read Luke 1: 78-79 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon. These words are part of Zechariah's song of praise the Benedictus that is said in morning prayer.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
ENGLISH: O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
LATIN: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.
Celebrating with children
Find and read Luke 1:78-79 which is part of a song of praise from Zechariah who was John the Baptist's father. Talk about the light coming in the morning and how Jesus is the Light of the world who came to chase the darkness away. If your child comes to children's liturgy you could ask them to teach you their Advent candle song, in which we sing 'chase the darkness, fill the world with light, be a little candle flame and shine out bright'.
You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
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
For a 5 minute photo story of the visit of Mary to Elizabeth and to hear Zechariah's Song of praise (canticle) click here suitable for Key Stage 2 and above including adults.