The Journey of the Magi

It’s the Feast of the Epiphany in the West and of the Theophany in the East, and though T S Eliot’s Ariel Poem, “The Journey of the Magi,” gets trotted rather often this time of year, there’s still something in the words that makes me shiver. From the slightly...

Christmas Eve

Cum ortus fúerit sol de cælo, vidébitis Regem regum procedéntem a Patre, tamquam sponsum de thálamo suo. When the sun rises in the heavens you will see the king of kings. He comes forth from the Father like a bridegroom coming in splendor from his wedding chamber. For...

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God. Therefore the Lord himself will...

O King of Nations

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. He...

O Morning Star

O Oriens,splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris,et umbra mortis. O Morning Star,splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:Come and enlighten those who dwell in darknessand the shadow of death. The people who walked...