Category: Formation Friday

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  

 Today our lesson focuses upon the relationship between the Praises of God and the O Antiphons.  This lesson includes information on the history of the O Aniphons and how to use them. Some of you may have begun saying the O Antiphons yesterday in the Liturgy of the Hours, but others can catch up on these beautiful prayers.  Have a Holy Advent Season,  Peace, Dona

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Did you ever notice the relationship between the Praises of God and the O Antiphons? Now might be a good time to take a look.

“Leo of Assisi, who was with Francis on LaVerna in the Fall of 1224, wrote in red ink on one side of this piece of parchment: ‘Two years before his death, the blessed Francis spent forty days on Mount LaVerna from the Feast of the Assumption of the holy Virgin Mary until the September Feast of Saint Michael, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and the blessed Michael the Archangel. And the Lord’s hand was upon him. After the vision and message of the Seraph and the impression of Christ’s stigmata upon his body, he composed these praises written on the other side of this page and wrote them in his own hand, thanking God for the kindness bestowed on him.’”

The Praises of God – St. Francis of Assisi

You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things. 

You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are the almighty king. You holy Father, 
King of heaven and earth. 

You are three and one, the Lord God of gods; 
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true. 

You are love, charity; You are wisdom, You are humility,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness, 
You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.

You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are the protector, You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength, You are refreshment. ⁶You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,
You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-praises-of-god-and-the-blessing/125-fa-ed-1-page-109

 
About the O Antiphons 

https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/the-o-antiphons-of-advent

“The Roman Church has been singing the “O” Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative “Come!” embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.”

 December 17: O Sapientia “O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet gentle care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.” (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

“You are love, charity; You are wisdom,
You are patience, You are beauty, You are meekness,…” (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 18: O Adonai “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. “You are the holy Lord God Who does wonderful things.”  (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

You are strong. You are great. You are the most high.
You are three and one, the Lord God of gods; 
You are the good, all good, the highest good,
Lord God living and true…”  (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 19: O Radix Jesse “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

“You are security, You are rest,
You are gladness and joy, You are our hope, You are justice,
You are moderation, You are all our riches to sufficiency.” (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 20: O Clavis David “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.”  (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

 “You are the protector,  You are our custodian and defender,
You are strength…”  (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 21: O Oriens “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

“You are beauty, You are meekness,
You are refreshment. ⁶You are our hope,
You are our faith, You are our charity,…”  (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 22: O Rex Gentium “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

“You are the almighty king. You holy Father, 
King of heaven and earth.” (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

December 23: O Emmanuel “ O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, the desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.  (Antiphon: Canticle of Mary, Liturgy of the Hours)

“You are all our sweetness, You are our eternal life:
Great and wonderful Lord, Almighty God, Merciful Savior.” (From the Praises of God by St. Francis)

To discuss or comment on in your journal

+ How does the text of the “Praises of God” help you to see how St. Francis thinks about God?

+ Think about the praises—perhaps at Adoration—How do they influence your closeness to and relationship with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

+ Each day during the rest of Advent, take the O Antiphon for the day and think about it in light of the Praises of God. Discuss or comment on your prayer experience in your journal.

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 Recursos en español:

El Significado de las antífonas de la O y la Fiesta de la expectación del Parto
https://www.aciprensa.com/recursos/el-significado-de-las-antifonas-de-la-o-y-la-fiesta-de-la-expectacion-del-parto-1784

ALABANZAS DEL DIOS ALTÍSIMO
http://www.franciscanos.org/esfa/ald.html

 Para discutir o comentar en su diario

+ ¿Cómo le ayuda el texto de las “Alabanzas de Dios” para entender cómo piensa San Francisco sobre Dios?

+ Piense en las Alabanzas, tal vez durante la Adoración, ¿Cómo influyen en su cercanía y relación con Dios, Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo?

+ Cada día durante el resto del Adviento, piense en la “Antífona O” del día a la luz de las Alabanzas de Dios. Platique o comente sobre su experiencia de oración en su diario.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  Let us reflect upon Francis’ Early Documents to find our way as servants in the Order.  The lesson today is a help to bring our mission to light.  Please discuss the Admonitions below with your fraternities.   Peace, Dona

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Focus on the Admonitions  (IV, VI, and IX) 

https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/the-admonitions/144-fa-ed-1-page-128

[IV: Let No One Make Being Over Others His Own]

¹I did not come to be served, but to serve, says the Lord. Mt 20:28

²Let those who are placed over others boast about that position as much as they would if they were assigned the duty of washing the feet of their brothers. ³And if they are more upset at having their place over others taken away from them than at losing their position at their feet, the more they store up a money bag ^{Jn 12:6} to the peril of their soul.^c

[VI: Imitation of Christ]

¹Let all of us, brothers, consider the Good Shepherd Who bore the suffering of the cross to save His sheep.

²The Lord’s sheep followed Him in tribulation and persecution, in shame and hunger, in weakness and temptation, and in other ways; and for these things they received eternal life from the Lord.

³Therefore, it is a great shame for us, the servants of God, that the saints have accomplished great things and we want only to receive glory and honor by recounting them.

[IX: Love]

¹The Lord says: Love your enemies [do good to those who hate you and pray for those who persecute and slander you]. ^{Mt 5:44}

²For that person truly loves his enemy who is not hurt by an injury done to him, ³but, because of the love of God, is stung by the sin of his soul. ⁴Let him show him love by his deeds.

To discuss or answer in your journal:

• How does Admonition IV inspire me in my role as a servant leader in my fraternity? What does it say to me as a parent or as a leader in my community?
• How does Admonition VI encourage me to be strong in my following of Christ? How do I handle suffering for Christ? How do I explain my commitment to Christ to others?
• When you think about Admonition IX, what is your reaction?  

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Enfoque en las admoniciones de San Francisco  (IV, VI y IX)

http://www.franciscanos.org/esfa/adm-ae.html

[Cap. IV: Que nadie se apropie la prelacía]

¹No he venido a ser servido, sino a servir, dice el Señor (cf. Mt 20,28). ²Aquellos que han sido constituidos sobre los otros, gloríense de esa prelacía tanto, cuanto si hubiesen sido destinados al oficio de lavar los pies a los hermanos. ³Y cuanto más se turban por la pérdida de la prelacía que por la pérdida del oficio de lavar los pies, tanto más acumulan en la bolsa para peligro de su alma (cf. Jn 12,6).

[Cap. VI: De la imitación del Señor]

¹Consideremos todos los hermanos al buen pastor, que por salvar a sus ovejas sufrió la pasión de la cruz. ²Las ovejas del Señor le siguieron en la tribulación y la persecución, en la vergüenza y el hambre, en la enfermedad y la tentación, y en las demás cosas; y por esto recibieron del Señor la vida sempiterna. ³De donde es una gran vergüenza para nosotros, siervos de Dios, que los santos hicieron las obras y nosotros, recitándolas, queremos recibir gloria y honor.

[Cap. IX: Del amor]

¹Dice el Señor: Amad a vuestros enemigos, [haced el bien a los que os odian, y orad por los que os persiguen y calumnian] (Mt 5,44). ²En efecto, ama de verdad a su enemigo aquel que no se duele de la injuria que le hace, ³sino que, por amor de Dios, se consume por el pecado del alma de su enemigo. ⁴Y muéstrele su amor con obras.

Para platicar o contestar en su diario:

• ¿Cómo me inspira la Admonición IV en mi papel de líder servidor en mi fraternidad? ¿Qué me dice como padre o líder en mi comunidad?

• ¿Cómo me anima la Admonición VI a ser fuerte en mi seguimiento de Cristo? ¿Cómo manejo el sufrimiento por Cristo? ¿Cómo explico mi compromiso con Cristo a los demás?

• Cuando piensa en la Admonición IX, ¿cuál es su reacción?