Antiphon
O Rex Gentium

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.
(cf Isaiah 28.16; Ephesians 2.14)

Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

1 Samuel 1.24-28 | Song of Hannah (APBA p.429) | Luke 1.46-56

Christmas
George Mackay Brown

'Toll requiem', said sun to earth,
As the grass got thin.
The star-wheel went, all nails and thorns,
Over mill and kirk and inn.
The old sun died. The widowed earth
Tolled a black bell.
'Our King will return', said root to bone,
To the skeleton tree on the hill.
At midnight, an ox and an ass,
Between lantern and star
Cried, Gloria … Lux in tenebris …
In a wintered byre.

Be-Attitude: Blessed are the pure in heart who really clan up their act.

Prayer

Intimate God,
we yearn for the light of your coming
and the warmth of your embrace;
focus our hearts on the truly important
and keep us centred on that still point, Jesus our Emmanuel,
who is alive with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever. Amen.
— Bosco Peters

Justice, mercy and peace

Religious Freedom: Each year, the US State Department publishes a report on international religious freedom. In 2011 Secretary Clinton designated eight countries as countries of particular concern: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan. In each of these, the situation is worsening, not improving, according to the most recent report. Many democratic countries, especially in Europe, also deserve criticism for their treatment of minority religious groups.

"And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home." Luke 1.56

Fra Angelico. The Visitation, from the Cortona altarpiece, 1434. Museo Diocesano, Cortona.

The Coventry Carol (Anon. 15th c. or 16th c.), sung by Collegium Vocale Gent, conducted by Peter Dijkstra.