‘O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence’.

This Great O Antiphon, the first to be sung, is immensely rich in its strong overtones of the ancient Wisdom literature of the Bible: ‘For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail. She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well’.

As we begin this last part of our Advent journey, made in such exceptional circumstances this year, we recommit ourselves to follow the way of Christ, the Power and the Wisdom of God, in whatever circumstances He may have placed us. And may God bless you in your following.