Readings

1 Samuel 1:24-28 | Song of Hannah (APBA p: 429) | Luke 1:46-56

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)

Arvo Pärt (1935): Sieben Magnificat-Antiphonen (1988). VI – O König aller Volker. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, cond. Toni Kaljuste.

Christmas Dream
Eugene Peterson

"an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream."

Amiably at home with virtue and evil —
The righteousness of Joseph and Herod's
Wickedness — I'm ever and always a stranger to grace.
I need this annual angel visitation.

— this sudden drive by dream into reality —
to know the virgin conceives and God is with us.
The dream powers its way through winter weather
and gives me vision to see the Jesus gift.

Light from the dream lasts a year. Through
Equinox and solstice I am given twelve months

Of daylight by which to build the crèche where my
Redeemer lives. The fetus of praise grows

deep in my spirit. As autumn wanes I count
the days until I bear the dream again.

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

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

Frank Wesley (1923-2002),
The visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.

J. S. Bach. Cantata BWV 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (1716 & 1723).
Arnold Schoenberg Choir with Concentus Musicus Vienna, cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Kloster Melk Benedictine Monastery, Austria, 2000.
This canata was revised by Bach for the feast of the visitation in 1723.