O Radix Jesse – 19th December
O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come and deliver us, and do not delay.
O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come and deliver us, and do not delay.
As Advent begins and you put your Advent wreath in pride of place in your home, gather your household together to pray this blessing.
St John Henry Newman wrote that ‘there is no difference in kind between her and us, though an inconceivable difference of degree. She and we are both simply saved by the grace of Christ.’ But with Mary, the manner in which she was saved was exceptional: from the first moment of her existence, she was freed from the stain of Original Sin.
When Scholastica met her brother for the last time, a sudden rainstorm providentially prolonged the meeting; three days later St Benedict saw her soul ascend to heaven as a dove.
On Christmas Eve, it is traditional to gather your household together and pray this blessing over the nativity scene.
On All Saints, the Church celebrates all those who are in Heaven – both those recognised by the Church as saints and those known only to the Lord.