‘O Dayspring, Brightness of Light everlasting, and Sun of Righteousness: Come and enlighten him that sitteth in darkness, and the shadow of death’. The antiphon draws on the prophecy of Malachi: ‘For you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings’.

As dawn rises over the city of Birmingham, let us pray that the Light of Christ will illumine all that happens there, and we pray for justice and peace. May God bless you this day.