Rorate Caeli, O Oriens etc.

Advent is slowly drawing to an end but it is not Christmas yet. The Introit for Mass (in both forms) today is Rorate Caeli one of my favourites. And not only mine, versions of it are used in the breviary, as a hymn in its' own right and of course as the proper introit for the Advent ember wednesday and 4th Advent. The version linked to above is by Palestrina and is sung by the Regensburg Cathedral choir (or one of them) conducted by one msgr Georg Ratzinger. The O-antiphons continue as well, O Oriens, which alludes to Our Lord being the light of the world, the sun of justice etc., is here sung by the Dominicans at Backfriars in Oxford. Visited there a couple of times. J.R.R. Tolkien, who frequently served Mass at this church, is said to have taken his inspiration for the descriptions of some of his characters in The Lord of the Rings from statues in this church.

We go on prepairing for Christmas by prayer

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[mention your request here]
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory be.