Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Saturday

"Nasoni - Big Nose"

The common fountains all over Rome

offering a drink to all who are thirsty.

It's Christmas eve.
I conclude my Fountains of Rome with this humble fountain that is familiar to all of us in the Eternal City.

Have a great Christmas!

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Friday

Fountain in the courtyard of Palazzo della Rovere

Headquarters of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Thursday

Fontana della Pigna - Fountain of the Pine Cone

Piazza San Marco

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Wednesday

Fontana della Tartarughe - The Turtle Fountain

in Piazza Mattei

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Tuesday

Fontana dell Api - Fountain of the Bees

by Bernini in Piazza Barberini

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 4 Monday

Fountain in front of Palazzo del Viminale

Headquarters for Italian Ministry of the Interior

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 2011: Week 4 Sunday

Courtyard Fountain of San Anselmo on the Aventine Hill

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 2011: Week 3 Saturday

On the Janiculum Hill at Chiesa San Onofrio

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 Roman Fountains.

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.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Friday

Fountain at the base of the obelisk in Piazza San Giovanni Laterano

May your grace, almighty God,
always go before us and follow after,
so that we who await with heartfelt desire
the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
may receive your help both now and in the life to come.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Thursday

Fountain in Tor Tre Teste near Ancient Aquaducts

(the neighborhood of the Jubilee Church designed by Richard Meyer)

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready
the paths of your Only Begotten Son,
that through his coming
we may be found worthy to serve you
with minds made pure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Wednesday

Palazzo dei Congressi, designed by Adalberto Libera

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that the coming solemnity of your Son
may bestow healing upon us in this present life
and bring us the rewards of life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Tuesday

Fontana dei Libri - Fountain of the Books

between Piazza dell Rotonda and Piazza Navona

O God, who through your Only Begotten Son
have made us a new creation,
look kindly, we pray,
on the handiwork of your mercy,
and at your Son’s coming
cleanse us from every stain
of the old way of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Monday

Fountain in the Villa Doria Pamphili Gardens

Incline a merciful ear to our cry,
we pray, O Lord,
and casting light on the darkness of our hearts,
visit us with the grace of your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 3 Sunday

Fountains of Rome

Fontana detta la "Terrina" - the Soup Tureen

in Piazza della Chiesa Nuova

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.


From the Companion Missal:

The Opening Mass Prayer for the Third Sunday of Advent

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Saturday

Fountains of Rome

Villa Farnesina Garden Fountain

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Friday

Fountain in front of the Church of Sergius and Bacchus

Piazza Maria dei Monti

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Thursday

Fountains of Rome

Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevers

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 2011: Week 2 Wednesday

Fountains of Rome

Fountain at the Ara Pacis

(designed by Richard Meyer)

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Tuesday

Fountains of Rome

The Fountain of the Porter (Fontana del Facchino)

in the Via Lada, near Via del Corso and Piazza Venezia

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Monday

Fountains of Rome

The Navicella in front of Chiesa Santa Maria in Domenica

on the Caelian Hill, one of the seven historic hills of Rome

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 2 Sunday

Fountains of Rome

Piazza del Popolo

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 1 Saturday

Fountains of Rome

Fountain in the Gardens of Villa Borghese

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 1 Friday

Fountains of Rome

Fountain in front of Palazzo Farnese

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

Advent Calendar 2011: Week 1 Thursday

Fountains of Rome

Fountain in front of the Pantheon, Piazza della Rotunda

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