The "O Antiphons," one of the oldest liturgical rituals in the church, are prayed around the world during the final days of Advent. For the seven days before Christmas, we recall in these prayers a quality of Christ that must be realized before the presence of Christ can consume the world. Join us in prayer. Listen to the Benedictine Sisters sing the antiphons that were composed by the late Erie Benedictine Sister Mary David Callahan.
O Dayspring: December 21
The celebration of the God of Growth in our lives—those moments of insight in which life comes newly alive in me—helps us to recognize those moments of insight in which life comes newly alive and I begin to see differently, to live differently, to function differently. A new friend, a new work, a new idea are all "radiant dawns" in life that can enable me to become more than I ever dreamed I could. — Joan D. Chittister, OSB
Prayer: O Dayspring, Sun of Justice, bright eternal light, one who shows the way, the one who sets us free even in darkness and death. Come, disperse the gloomy clouds of night.
Click below to listen to the Benedictine Sisters sing the O Antiphon prayer.
Monastic Life Is...
Sister Joan Chittister and Sister Linda Romey are among the contributors to Wisdom from the Global Sisterhood, a new book of contemporary reflections by Catholic sisters compiled from ten years' of Global Sisters Report (GSR) writings.
New in the Brick by Brick substack: When first thinking about Catholic religious life as my next step, I wondered how one even goes about that these days and how one chooses among the different orders. Then the podcast I was listening to said Benedictine right as I drove past a Church of St. Benedict, so the matter was settled.
I like wordplay and books, so I keep my eye out for clever names, including titles of cozy mysteries (Buried in the Stacks, by Allison Brook) and book/gift shops (the Bayfront Bookshelf run by Friends of the Library at Blasco, for example). But I didn't know why the gift shop at Mount St. Benedict (6101 East Lake Road) is called Chapter 57 until Sister Valerie Luckey, OSB, director of Emmaus Ministries, explained its origin. (I am also a freelance writer for Emmaus.)
If you haven't checked our Substacks, Blogs, and Podcasts page in the last few days, there is new content in all of them. These are the most recent titles: Spaces and Liberation; “Symbolic Monks” and the world's ways; OMG!; We need culture; The Earliest Struggles; Nature At Its Best.
This week is a confluence of meaning. We celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the Annointed One (Christ the King) last Sunday, November 24. We celebrate Thanksgiving Thursday, November 28, and next Sunday, December 1, Advent begins. On Sunday, Oblate Priscilla Richter offered insightful reflections that illuminated the meaning of all these events in light of the gospel reading from John 18:33b-37 and our current reality.
Pierogis. Shawarma. Bratwurst. Sushi. Collard greens. Empanadas. Can’t you imagine the delicious tastes offered by each of these foods? Need a bit of sweet? We could add: Biscotti. Kolache. Chocolates. Baklava. The list of our food preferences has expanded and internationalized quite naturally. We see what others are enjoying. We try it. We like it.
December 1 - 25 Monasteries of the Heart is offering Into the Light: Daily Advent Journey. Register now.
The Benedictine Sisters are offering a reflective and interactive Advent retreat on Saturday morning, December 14. This Advent lectio retreat will explore our call to love. It begins at 9:30 a.m. at the monastery and concludes at 11:00 a.m. Registration are required, and donations are welcome. To register, for more information, email retreats@eriebenedictines.org or phone (814) 899-0614, ext 2403.
