O Oriens - Morning Star (6th Antiphon):
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
From The 'O' Antiphons Advent Study | Seasonal Study Program
Lectio 365 app reflection:
"I don't know how many times I've stumbled around in a dark and unfamiliar house, knowing there must be a light somewhere, but unable to find the switch. John the Baptist is like someone who turns up just in time and says, "Ah, you're looking for the light? It's right there.' And that is what God wants me to do too. I don't have to be the light; I just need to point those who are stumbling around in the dark to Jesus."
Richard Rohr, Preparing for Christmas for Monday of the 2nd week of Advent:
"We wish world hunger could be eliminated. We wish we could stop wasting the world's resources on armimants. We wish we could stop killing people from womb to tomb. But at a certain point, we have to surrender to the fact that the darkness has always been here, and the only real question is how to recieve the light and spread the light. That is not capitulation any more than the cross was capitulation. It is real transformation into the absolutley unique character and program of the risen Christ."
Holy Hermit St John of the Cross:
"Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it; reflect all that must come to an end."
"The one who avoids prayer is avoiding all that is good."
"The way in which they are to conduct themselves in this night of sense is to devote themselves not at all to reasoning and meditation, since this is not the time for it, but to allow the soul to remain in peace and quietness, although it may seem clear to them that they are doing nothing and are wasting their time, and although it may appear to them that it is because of their weakness that they have no desire in that state to think of anything. The truth is that they will be doing quite sufficient if they have patience and persevere in prayer without making any effort...
It is well for those who find themselves in this condition to take comfort, to persevere in patience and to be in no wise afflicted. Let them trust in God, Who abandons not those that seek Him with a simple and right heart, and will not fail to give them what is needful for the road, until He bring them into the clear and pure light of love.""In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds."
