Feast of St Stephen

December 26th the feast of St Stephen
To day we remember St Stephen who we learn about in Acts of the Apostles.  Stephen was one of seven deacons chosen by the apostles to help them spread the Good News and tell people about Jesus.  He was known for his wisdom and was the first martyr who was stoned to death for standing up and preaching about Jesus.  

St Stephen and St Thomas More

This image is on the Te Deum window in the Cathedral, you can see St Stephen holding the stones and also a palm leaf which is a symbol of martyrdom.  In this picture you can also see St Thomas More who was to die for his faith over 1,500 years later.  

O Emmanuel

On Friday 23rd December we celebrate O Emmanuel

Emmanuel means God with us

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 7:14 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.
ENGLISH: O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

LATIN: O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 7:14 the message that we hear in Luke is about Mary who will have a son and that she will call him Emmanuel which means God is with us.  What can we do to get ready for Jesus. 

You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel
O come, o come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

A secret message
If you look back at the letters of the Antiphons starting with today Emmanuel and going backwards it spells in Latin ERO CRAS which means Tomorrow I will be. 

O King of the Gentiles

On Thursday 22nd December we celebrate O King

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 28:16  spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

LATIN: O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

ENGLISH: O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 28:16 the King who foundation.  Maybe make a crown. 


You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel

O come, Desire of nations, bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace

O Oriens - O Dayspring

On Wednesday 21st December we celebrate the dayspring

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.

Mary and Joseph on facebook

Many young people and adults will have a facebook page.  This video clip shows what Mary and Joseph as well as their friends and family might have shared on their facebook page.

We have all heard, or in some cases experienced the challenges as well as the fun with social networking. Let's make sure if we use it we use it to share Good News.

O Key of David

On Tuesday 20th December we celebrate O Key of David

Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 22:22 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
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.

O Root of Jesse

On Monday 19th December we celebrate the root of Jesse, Jesus' family tree



Celebrating at home Read Isaiah 11:10 spend time reflecting on the words of the Antiphon.
Click mp3 to open a separate page and link to the Latin chant.

ENGLISH: O root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.

LATIN: O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

Celebrating with children
Find and read Isaiah 11:10 and talk about how Jesus was born of the house of David.
or you might talk about how the roots of a plant keep us secure. 

Talk about your own family and how we learn important things from grandparents and our ancestors.   

Roots brings the plant things it needs to grow and keeps it in the right place.  What are our roots?  Say a prayer of thanksgiving for all those members of our family who have helped us,


You might sing the verse from the hymn O Come Emmanuel

O come, O Rod of Jesse free,
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.