December 18, 2018: O ADONAI

December 18, 2018: O ADONAI

O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moysi in igne flammӕ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti; veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extenso.

O Adonaï, and leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush, and gavest him the law on Sinaï; come and redeem us by thy outstretched arm.

O Sovereign Lord! O Adonai! come and redeem us, not by thy power, but by thy humility. Heretofore, thou didst show thyself to Moses thy servant in the midst of a mysterious flame; thou didst give thy law to thy people amidst thunder and lightning; now, on the contrary, thou comest not to terrify, but to save us. Thy chaste Mother having heard the Emperor's edict, which obliges her and Joseph her Spouse to repair to Bethlehem, she prepares everything needed for thy divine Birth. She prepares for thee, O Sun of Justice! the humble swathing-bands, wherewith to cover thy nakedness, and protect thee, the Creator of the world, from the cold of that mid-night hour of thy Nativity! Thus it is that thou wiliest to deliver us from the slavery of our pride, and show man that thy divine arm is never stronger than when he thinks it powerless and still. Everything is prepared, then, dear Jesus! thy swathing-bands are ready for thy infant limbs! come to Bethlehem, and redeem us from the hands of our enemies.

Taken from: The Liturgical Year - Advent, Edition 1870.

Also Read – December 18, 2018: Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary, holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
St. Joseph, chaste spouse of Mary, pray for us.