The 'O' Antiphons for Gaza; O Oriens

Autumn Cathedral, carving by Giselbertus, the angel shows the dreaming Magi the star

21 December

O Oriens

O Morning Star

Splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death

Christi compass of our lives;

Our true guide, O Christ the Morning Star

That never dims, nor sets

Whose radiance is brighter that any sun,

Whose light is gentle, yet strong

Come now into our darkness,

To our world torn and ravished

By the hurts we inflict on one another

And on our mother the earth

The only home we have now.

Shine on us, to burn away our sin

Top heal our hurt,

To reveal what needs to be seen

. Make know the deeds of darkness

Not to judge unjustly

Nor to punish wilfully

But only that we may change them

With the anointing oil of mercy

And the light of forgiving truth.

May the light of the

Life-giving spirit

Your gift to us all

Help always first our lives towards You

Christ our Morning Star that never sets.