Dec

5

Advent in Oxford

December 5, 2007 |

It’s post term and I will be in Oxford all of Advent and Christmas. Bit of a blow not to have the whole family, but Oxford will be great in December, between Blackfriars and the Oratory. The Dominicans are most hospitable, and began the season (and the year) in style on Saturday with solemn Vespers with carol singing. Among the carols on Saturday, I rediscovered ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’. The words in full:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Song of God appear.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, Thou Wisdom whose decree,
doth govern all things peacefully,
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell Thy people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, Thou Day-spring, come
and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

Dominican students are organising talks every Wednesday for those who can attend, and those who can’t.


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