Preparing this Advent Season - Dec. 14

Week of December 14

Learn

Check out this video to see a couple lessons we can learn from everybody's favorite Advent hymn, 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'!

O Antiphons

Pray

As we enter into the last week before Christmas, spending some time in prayer and reflection with some guidance from the ‘O Antiphons’ and ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ is a great way to make ourselves ready to welcome the Lord Jesus! Check out this lyric video of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ to reflect on the different titles of Jesus while listening to this ancient song!

Our Lord and Savior has so many names, such as Root of Jesse, King of Nations, and Emmanuel. The O Antiphons are short prayers that call to mind these names of Jesus used in the Old Testament prophecies. Use the attached activity to learn about and pray the O Antiphons from Dec. 17-23 as we approach the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord.
If you have the Magnificat Advent Companion, check out page 84 for a great way to pray with the ‘O Antiphons’. If you don’t have the Magnificat Advent Companion, check out this link from Creighton University’s online ministry that has some wonderful little prayers based on the ‘O Antiphons’ for each day from December 17 through the 23.
Here’s one more link that gives a great meditation on how the ‘O Antiphons’ can help prepare us for Christmas along with some questions based on each antiphon for personal and/or family reflection!

Emmanuel means ‘God-with-us’. This is what we are rejoicing at this third week of Advent - in the midst of our loneliness, sin, and brokenness, God will be with us very soon in the Child Jesus! You probably know some people in your life that are especially lonely and hurting right now. It’s a great idea to send them a Christmas card to let them know they are loved - by both you and Jesus!