O Root of Jesse, Which standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, Whom the Gentiles shall beseech: come and deliver us, and tarry not (Is. 11:10).
On the Wednesday of Ember week in Advent, the Mystery of the Annunciation is commemorated by many Churches. The Mass is sung early in the morning. That Mass is sometimes called the Golden Mass, Rorate Mass, or Messias Mass. On that occassion the Church is illuminated, as a token that the world was still in darkness when the Light of the world appeared. The Mass is called the Golden Mass possibly because in the Middle Ages the whole of the Mass or at least the initial letters were written in gold, or on account of the golden magnificence of the solemnity, or more probably on account of the special, great, "golden" grace which, at that time, is obtained by the numerous prayers. It is called Rorate Mass after the first words of the introit of the Mass: Rorate Coeli; and Messias Mass because the Church, like our Lady, expresses on that day her longing for the arrival of the Messias.
The sun is out at last and it is beautiful outside. After my exam this morning we went for a nice walk to the Kartause and back. The views from inside the courtyard were wonderful.
2 comments:
This is amazing! Papa and I started figuring out his vacation days for the next year, so that he will have 4 weeks available in January '09...it's exciting! Also exciting, and moreso, is that May 18 of 2008 is getting closer every day. Betsy says it's 152 days, to be exact. Yay!!! 1-2-3
Wonderful! We'll have to post a countdown.
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