Mary Winifred | Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

The ancient traditions of the early Church provide a wealth of material for prayer and meditation in the final days of Advent. During this time of waiting, watching and preparation Christians invite God into their lives. One way to pray for God's coming is to use the ancient prayers of the Church combined with a present-day understanding of what Christ's coming means for them. This work invites those who wish to recover the meaning of Advent to do so with the Ancient O Antiphons - through moments of prayer, silence and meditation. The "Great Os" - short devotional texts chanted before and after a Psalm or canticle - are sung before and after the Magnificat, the song of Mary, at Vespers from 17-23 of December. Each of the Antiphons welcomes the Messiah and ends with a petition of hope. The book is organized in prayer service form for use by individuals or groups. It offers the wisdom of these traditional prayers and readings, along with Sister Winifred's own meditations and poems. When used by study groups, all members are encouraged to take part by sharing responsibilities for the reading and contributing personal reflections.
These meditations are based on the O Antiphons, together with their scriptural texts, so that readers can move through the last days of Advent with joy and hope.