Good Evening Dear Family of Love!
Happy Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday! I hope all is well. Today's #AdventWord is #Animate. What do we mean by the word animate? Let's turn our research skills and look up the word again like we always do and see what mystery this word beholds for us.
an·i·mate (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
VERB
bring to life:
"the desert is like a line drawing waiting to be animated with color"
give inspiration, encouragement, or renewed vigor to:
"she has animated the nation with a sense of political direction"
synonyms: enliven · vitalize · breathe (new) life into ·
energize · invigorate · revive · vivify · liven up · inspire · inspirit · exhilarate · thrill · excite · fire · arouse · rouse · quicken · stir · light a fire under
antonyms: depress
(be animated)
give (a movie or character) the appearance of movement using animation techniques.
ADJECTIVE
alive or having life (often as a contrast with inanimate):
"all of creation, animate and inanimate"
synonyms: living · alive · live · breathing · quick
antonyms: inanimate
lively and active:
"party photos of animate socialites"
ORIGIN
late Middle English: from Latin animat- ‘instilled with life,’ from the verb animare, from anima ‘life, soul.’
What do you see at the end where we find the origin of the word? Anima "Life, Soul!"
When we talk about the word animate it implies empowerment, enlivening, soul- force and leads us to today's Great O Antiphon, O Emmanuel, "God With Us" God is with us and in us and works through us on behalf of others. There is an old prayer called the Anima Christi and I would like us to use this prayer to begin tonight's meditation and vigil.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me
and bid me come to you
That with your saints I may praise you
For ever and ever. Amen.
Or you may use Cardinal John Henry Newman's Translation:
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification;
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ's side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesu, listen to me;
In Thy wounds I fain would hide;
Ne'er to be parted from Thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy saints to sing Thy love,
World without end. Amen.
Now let us listen to the carol/hymn
Awake, My Soul, Stretch every Nerve
By Handel.
Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown.
And press with vigor on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown.
A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way,
And onward urge thy way.
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way,
And onward urge thy way.
’Tis God’s all animating voice
That calls thee from on high;
’Tis His own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye,
To thine aspiring eye.
That calls thee from on high;
’Tis His own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye,
To thine aspiring eye.
Then wake, my soul, stretch every nerve,
And press with vigor on,
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown.
And press with vigor on,
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown,
And an immortal crown.
This hymn certainly contains animation. God calls us to be animate and animated. But not to the extent we forget that we must take time to be in God's holy presence. We haven't done our "Be Stills" in awhile, I suggest that we do that now just as a reminder to listen to the animation of our breathing and beating of our hearts.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
Inhale.
Hold.
Exhale
Pause,
Repeat.
Listen to your surroundings and imagine yourselves being in a quiet sanctuary, manger, oratory, quiet place, happy zone.
Now let us light our candles, make vigil, and pray.
We will begin with our Great O Antiphons, after the Anthem at the Candle Lighting.
Anthem at the Candle lighting. (BOS)
You, O Lord, are my lamp; *
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You have been my helper:
My God, you make my darkness bright.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
V. Let my prayer be set forth, O Lord:
R. As incense in your sight.
You, O Lord, are my lamp; *
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
You have been my helper:
My God, you make my darkness bright.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
You, O Lord, are my lamp;
my God, you make my darkness bright.
V. Let my prayer be set forth, O Lord:
R. As incense in your sight.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Sapientia
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. Refrain
O Adonai
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. Refrain
O Radix Jesse
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain
O Clavis David
O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home ;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
And open wide our heav'nly 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 Oriens
O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice ! Rejoice ! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Rex gentium
(Various renditions)
A. O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.
B O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
C . O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain
O Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
O Sapientia
O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Adonai
O Adonai, Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law in Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall stop their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: Come and deliver us, and tarry not.
O Clavis David -
O Key of David, Sceptre and the house of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth: Come and bring forth the prisoners out of the prison house.
O Oriens -
O Day-spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
O Rex gentium -
O King of Nations and their Desire; the Cornerstone, who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay.
O Rex Gentium
O Emmanuel -
O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, Desire of all nations and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God.
God of all power, love, mercy and radiant light, strengthen us we pray as we light our candles and be at prayer. We pray for your healing power among us who are ill. We pray that we may lovingly respond to our family members who are in need of loving comfort when they are going through any crisis. We pray this night for an end to all forms of weaponry and violence. We pray that we may have courage to lean on you when we feel our energy waning. We pray for all family members who are being robbed of power due to abuse, human trafficking, slavery, bullying, and people who make them feel insignificant and invisible. We pray for peace in this fragile and broken world and in our hearts and minds. We pray that we may listen to your call to serve and be empowered to carry your light, your love, your mercy, with listening ears and open hearts. We pray this night and as we remember this The Love and Light that God gave me, I give to you and to all of our family members. May we reflect God's love and light and feel God's holy power indwelling in us and calling us to pray and serve. May we know that there's power in our prayers and it comes from you O God. Amen.
There is Power in Our Prayers!
God, you told us that when we pray it makes a difference and that healing happens. Indeed it does, there's power in our prayers.
God, you have shown us that prayer opens our hearts to love and put down the weapons of hate. Our prayers are powerful peacemakers.
Jesus, you showed the apostles how to pray and revealed yourself to the pilgrims on the road to Emmaus . When you left them they felt the power of the prayers and in the breaking of the bread.
Jesus, you showed us how prayers can be renewing forces in our lives when we need them and as a way of rest. There is power and refreshment in our prayers.
Jesus, you modeled for us a way of life where we love one another and we meet and are united with each other in fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayers, and holding all things in common. There is power in our prayers as we seek unity and the need to seek to be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful)
Holy Spirit, we thank you for empowering us to pray fervently when we are called upon to do so. May our prayers be empowering and powerful.
Holy Spirit, give us when we lag in confidence in our prayers to lean on your power and pray with actions not words.
Holy Spirit, we pray this night that we may feel your power as we are empowered and enlivened to pray for our family members wherever they are throughout the world. Help us to turn our prayer power on and know that there's power in our prayers.
Now let us turn our hearts and prayer power on by lighting our candles and being at prayer.
Dear God we pray that we will season our prayers with love and care and take time in mindful silence and not be in a rush, rush, rush but a hush, hush, hush.
We pray for the least of these and those who continue to face discrimination of any kind.
We pray for rain in all areas affected by drought in our country and around the world.
We pray for our Family Members who are mourning losses of any kind and we pray that we may step up and be sources of comfort and compassion.
We pray this night for all those who work in the overnight hours especially our law enforcement personnel, Emergency and fire response agencies, and most especially those who work in the mortuary and hospice ministries.
We pray this night for those who are near and dear to us and who touch our hearts daily remembering especially______________
We add any of our special prayers, of petition, thanksgiving, remembrance, and celebration : Especially and with love for _________________
We pray for our Family Members who travel that they may be surrounded by Your protection God.
We pray for ourselves and what may be troubling our spirits and that we may place those concerns into the Worry/Sabbath box during this coming weekend.
We pray for all the troubled places in the world and that listening hearts and cool minds may be lead to do justice, love, mercy and walk humbly with You O God.
We pray this night that we may rest in the assurance of your everlasting mercy, forgiveness, and love and that we may awaken tomorrow to sing your praises and shine your light to a broken world. Amen.
+++++
Good Night Dear Ones! I love you and give thanks to God for you this and every day.
Have a blessed and restful night.
With love, joy, hope, and peace and an all animating heart and soul,
Sara
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