Merry Christmas

Have a Blessed Christmas Season!

This precipio is made of shells and greets all who enter the gate of our building.

Advent 2010: Crib of Zwickau

Advent 2010 is complete, and I hope you have enjoyed some of the Angels in Rome. I conclude this series with one of the many Christmas manger scenes in Rome. Since I have been living here, the precepio in the Panthon has come from an art competition in the German city of Zwickau. (The city was the first to embrace Lutheranism and is the birthplace of the composer Robert Schumann.) This year’s precepio was sculpted by Jo Harbort, age 59. He did not include any angels, but he does have a shepherd and kings.

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Angel across the street from Trevi Fountain

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Antiphon for December 23

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Angels above the Holy Water Font

Oratorio San Francesco Severio "del Caravita"

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

O Antiphon for December 22

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Angel Accompanying the Flight into Egypt

Vatican Gardens

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Antiphon for December 21

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Angels from the Non-Catholic Cemetery

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;

qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Antiphon for December 20

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Angels in the Basilica of San Clemente

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

O Antiphon for December 19

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 18

Angels above the door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

O Antiphone for December 18

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 17

Angel in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Antiphon for December 17

The "O" Antiphons

"O" Antiphons
Most people are familiar with the "O" Antiphons because they are paraphrased in the words of the Advent Hymn "O Come! O Come! Emmanuel." In the tradition of liturgucal churches, the "O" Antiphons are sung or recited at vespers from December 17 through December 23. I will be using them for the text of my next seven Advent Calendar Roman windows.

Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture. They are:
December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Adonai)
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Morning Star)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)

The exact origin of the "O Antiphons" is not known. Boethius (480–524/5) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence at that time. At the Benedictine Saint Benedict Abbey abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they were in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome.

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Angels in Piazza Navona: Fountains and Church Doors

Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. - His yoke is easy and His burthen is light.
From Handel's Messiah: Part I
Alto Air and Chorus

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Angels in the Church of San Guiseppe al Trionfale

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding.
"Christ is nigh," it seems to say;
"Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day."
Advent Hymn # 59
From The Hymnal 1982

Babbo Natale Goes to School

Babbo Natale made his annual visit to Ambrit Rome International School.

It is a tradition that the younger children bring gifts for Babbo Natale to deliver to pediatric HIV patients in Rome. The school families are very generous in providing toys for young children suffering from HIV.

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Angels in the Church of San Francesco a Ripa (Trastevere)

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain:
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
now o'er the earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that his word is never broken.
Advent Hymn #67
From The Hymnal 1982

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Angels on a column (c. 1975)

Church of Sant' Illario di Poitiers

See that your lamps are burning; replenish them with oil;
and wait for your salvation, the end of earthly toil.
The watchers on the mountain proclaim the Bridegroom near;
go meet him as he cometh, with alleluias clear.
Advent Hymn #68
From The Hymnal 1982

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 12

The Third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday
"Gaudete" comes from the Latin Antiphon, which begins, "Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.." [Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice...]. On this day, rose-colored vestments are worn, and flowers may decorate the chancel of the church.

Angel in the folds of the Madonna's Robe

Basilica Santa Anastasia on the Palatine Hill

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ever faithful to your promises
and ever close to your Church:
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming
and looks forward with longing
to his return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope
which his presence will bestow,
for he is Lord for ever and ever.

The Opening Mass Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent
From the Companion Missal

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Angels with a Clock

Facade of the Saint Peter's Basilica

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
 the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1-2 NRSV

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Angels above a Side Altar

Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano

Creator of the stars of night,

Thy people’s everlasting light,

Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,

And hear Thy servants when they call.
Advent Hymn #60
From The Hymnal 1982

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Closet Angels

in a vesting room of the Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Advent Hymn # 66
from the Hymnal 1982

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Sarcophagus Angel

Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

Prepare the way, O Zion; your Christ is drawing near!
Let every hill and valley a level way appear.
Greet one who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story.
Oh, blest is Christ that come In God’s most holy name.
Advent Hymn # 65
from the Hymnal 1982

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Angels in San Carlino

The Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.
Advent Hymn # 73
from the Hymnal 1982

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Angel on the roof of the Basilica Santa Anastasia

Palatine Hill, near the Circus Maximus

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of Kings.
Advent Hymn # 76
from the Hymnal 1982

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Angel mosaic (c. 822) from the ceiling of the St. Zeno Chapel

in the Basilica of Santa Prassede on the Esquiline Hill.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent

From the Book of Common Prayer

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Angels with Madonna (in the style of della Robbia)

On the corner of the Convent of St. Dorothy - Janiculum Hill

O come, thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

9th Century Advent Hymn

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 3

Angel of the Annunciation

Side Altar in the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
From Handel's Messiah: Part I
Chorus

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 2

An angel by Melozzo da Forli (438-1494)

from a fresco in the Basilica SS. Apostoli (now in Vatican Museums)

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

Collect from the Book of Common Prayer
for the First Sunday of Advent

Advent Calendar: Roman Angels 1

INTRODUCTION: This is my 4th year of posting an Advent Calendar on AMOROMA. I remember Advent Calendars from my childhood, and over the years I shared them with my own kids, Emily and Peter. We would look forward to opening a window and revealing a picture, and sometimes a verse, relating to Christmas.

Previous years in Rome I have posted Roman Windows, Roman Doors, and Roman Gates. This year I will continue my Advent Calendar tradition with Roman Angels. Each day you will be able to log in and see a different angel that I have encountered here in Rome.

This is an angel by Bernini on the Ponte Sant' Angelo.

O come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
9th Century Latin hymn