“Pray without ceasing” is St. Paul’s recommendation for Christians who want to experience true joy and fulfillment in God, both in their parishes and in their personal communion with Christ.  To “pray without ceasing” is not so much a goal, but an intention of spirit that practices the presence of God—no matter what and no matter where.  It’s a converting attitude that transforms the thoughts, words, and actions of every day into an expression of God’s grace working in us.  When our lives are so wrapped in prayer, we are better equipped to battle sin and temptation, and to know God as a constant friend, not just our Sunday Lord.

This sounds so ideal, but how do we begin to pray always when prayer itself doesn’t seem to come easy?  The same way all good commitments start—forming a habit!  When we take time to say the rich daily offices from the BCP with their prayers, psalms, lessons, and canticles, we have devotional material to keep us meditating throughout the day!  All prayer, whether it is repetition or spontaneity just starts to flow naturally.  But we need that foundation to get started.

Advent is a great time to get into the habit of saying Morning and Evening Prayer from the BCP.  Why?  Because Advent gives us a horizon.  The coming of Christ awaits us on December 25^th, so we have four wonderful weeks to prepare ourselves through the daily rhythm of prayer and study.  Suddenly, we’re more in tune with why we need the Savior to be born, and watchfulness for Him instinctively makes us contemplate the words we have said and read into, yes, constant prayer!

One particular Advent devotion we can use with the Daily Office is the “Christmas Novena,” a seven-day prayer cycle consisting of seven “O Antiphons” that constitute the verses of the beloved Advent hymn “O Come O Come Emmanuel.”  Each antiphon highlights some anticipated Messianic quality to be fulfilled in Jesus.  They are usually added to the Magnificat at Evening Prayer, complete with their own special novena prayers.  The first letter of each word even forms in Latin the words ero cras meaning “Tomorrow, I will come.”  When we pray these antiphons, we really appreciate who Jesus is as the Christ, and what a joyful conclusion Christmas brings to the years of waiting—and the days of our fervent novena prayers!  At the church, we will be observing three of the antiphons at the two remaining midweek masses and Sunday Evening Prayer, but it is my hope that you will observe the rest of the Novena in your homes!  Please see the reverse of this insert for all the O Antiphons!

O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.  (11:2-3; 28:29)

O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the Bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the Law in Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.  (11:4-5; 33:22)

O Root of Jesse, which standest for and ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentles shall seek: Come an deliver us, and tarry not.  (11:1, 10)

O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openth: Come and break down the prison walls of them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and lead thy captive people to freedom.  (22:22; 9:6)

O Dayspring, Brightness of Light Everlasting, and Sun of Righteousness; Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.  (9:1)

O King of the Nations, and their Desire; the Cornerstone who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou fashionedest of the dust.  (9:5; 2:4)

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.  (7:14)