On Tuesday 20th December we celebrate O Key of David
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
LATIN: O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.
ENGLISH: O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 22:22 and talk about how the key opens something.
You might look at the Statue of St Peter in the Cathedral. Jesus gave Peter the keys, which sacrament do they remind us about?
You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.