The “O” Antiphons are traditionally sung with the Magnificat starting on 17th December (Roman use) or 16th December (Book of Common Prayer). I like the BCP use, so I start today.
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviter disponens que omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
(English:) 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.
What does prudence mean in the context of waiting for God? What does prudence mean in the context of the Incarnation? Today I am struck by a practicality to this, an emphasis on ordering all things, not necessarily a lofty guru on a hilltop dispensing axiomatic wisdom but more “a stitch in time saves nine”. Maybe it’s just that my bicycle got yet another puncture last night, discovered this morning, and I hadn’t gotten around to ordering the new tyres needed to deal with all the glass on the roads here. I don’t feel particularly wise. Nothing deflates the ego like a puncture when you’re trying to get somewhere on time.
After all that trouble for pink yesterday, I’m back to purple hair today:
People have been making noises about being concerned about all the bleach needed to keep this up. I won’t lie: I’m concerned too. I may yet fry my hair. But I’m committed to doing this until at least 11th January. After I get the purple out for Christmas I should be able to go easy on the bleach for a while, using red hair chalk or similar for the odd Red day. I would really like to make it to 2nd February. You can sponsor me here.
Heard this morning, on R3, for the first time the Aarvo Part setting of O Sapientia, + 3 other antiphons. Wonderful, and thanks for your additional comments.
A Happy & peaceful Christmas to you, and I hope to see you at LGQ in the New Year