O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! Emmanuel, "God with us", come and do not delay!

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! The prophecies of the Messiah proclaim that he will be a King for all people, not only the Israelites.

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. When John the Baptist was born his father, Zechariah, spoke this Canticle: "In the tender compassion of our Lord The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness And the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79)

O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! David is the King of Jerusalem with the keys to the kingdom of Israel. Christ is the King of Creation with keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. "And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." Isaiah 22:22

O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! Jesse was a landowner in the town of Bethlehem and the father of King David. It is through his lineage that Joseph brought his wife, Mary, to the little town where Christ was born.

O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power! In ancient times it was unthinkable for faithful to use the name of God, so they would refer to him with the title "Adonai". The word "Adonai" simply means "Lord". The title is also used in the Old Testament for King Saul and King David. Jesus is the true Lord and King, the "Adonai" of heaven and earth.

The O Antiphons are part of the Vespers office recited during the seven days leading up to Christmas. This culmination of prayer contains an Old Testament promise of the Messiah. At the end of Advent, the Incarnation of Jesus on Christmas Day is the fulfillment of the desire of every human heart. The first antiphon is "O Sapientia" meaning, Wisdom. Together we pray: O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

MERIDEN, CT (07-13-2020) -The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist successfully finished their first week of summer experiences for children and look ahead to the next session. The goal of these outreaches is to create a positive space for children and youth to encounter nature, each other and themselves.The campus in Meriden was filled with the sound of laughter as children explored the gardens, fields and animal enclosures. The Sisters worked hard to make it just as fun and exciting as previous years while upholding important health precautions. Handwashing was consistent and closely monitored. Children and leaders observed social distancing and wore facemasks when necessary. Some games had to be creatively altered to avoid close contact while new games and activities were invented. “It was a good, worthwhile time,” one child commented, “It gave me a chance to learn and have fun, especially during this virus.”Each summer the Sisters have a particular theme that weaves activities and discussions together. This year’s theme is Laudato Si’; on the Care of Our Common Home. This encyclical letter from Pope Francis emphasizes the Christian responsibility to care for creation as a way of caring for the poor and underserved. In addition to building confidence and leadership skills through games, attendees learned about the developmental cycles of plants and animals. “It’s important for them to see the process of seed to seedling, seedling to plant, plant to fruit,” said group leader Sister Mary Mercy, “they realize that everything in life needs time to grow and it takes patience and dedication to see it through.” Crafts, sports and campfire activities were also a part of the summer experience. The next session of the Franciscan Land-based Summer Experience for Children [...]

This past May, Pope Francis called for a year celebrating the message of Laudato si’: On the Care of Our Common Home. This special year is observed from May 24, 2020 to May 24, 2021 and is promoted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Our Holy Father urges us to take care of our brothers and sisters worldwide and to work with them in solidarity. He also emphasizes the need to care for Creation as a gift from the Father and to take responsibility for our use of resources. As Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist we joyfully work our portiuncula (“little portion”) of Creation through growing our food, flowers, and caring for our animals. We labor side-by-side with each other and in union with all who “toil for the bread” they eat (Ps 127:2). This kind of work does more than provide for our basic needs. It helps us to reclaim right relationship to the land which man was meant to cultivate from the very beginning. Just like St. Francis, we come to see Christ in the person with whom we are working. Even the sun and soil become our brother and sister since we all have the same heavenly Father. As we celebrate this year of Laudato si' let us give praise to God for the wonders of His magnificent Creation and be converted to ever more faithful stewardship.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist and Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist hosted the seminarians of the Diocese of Bridgeport for a week-long retreat at the motherhouse in Meriden, CT. Father Connaughton, Vocation Director of Bridgeport, was with the seminarians throughout the week. True to Franciscan spirituality the retreat incorporated prayer and work on the land as a way to build bonds of community with each other and with God. Work projects included care and maintenance of homes for the elderly, clearing brush and fallen trees, and helping with loading hay bales from the hay fields to the storage barns. This time of physical labor and care for creation are expressions of Franciscan spirituality that transform mere toil into co-operation with the Creator. Prayer gave rhythm and structure to the retreat as the seminarians joined the Franciscan communities for daily Mass and liturgy of the hours. They also spent time in prayer and reflection as a peer group, building relationships that will carry into their priestly formation. The Sisters enjoyed sharing dinner with the seminarians at the end of each day. Sharing a meal also allowed them to share about each other’s lives and vocation stories. For many it was a continuation of the friendships begun during last year’s retreat. The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, celebrated Mass on the last day of retreat in gratitude for the physical, spiritual, and interpersonal works that were accomplished, and for continued collaboration between the priesthood and religious life.