Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights

O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations,

Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.”

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.”

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.”

As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent, a simple reflection:

“The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand the fullness

of the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas.

It is not just about commemorating the historical event,

which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea.

Instead, we must understand that our whole life should be an ‘advent’,

in vigilant expectation of the Christ’s final coming.”

– Pope St. John Paul II