December 22

 
Traditional Antiphon
O King of nations, and their desired One, and the corner stone that makest both one; come and save man whom thou formedst out of slime. 
 
Liturgy of the Hours
O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. 
 
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid every sad division cease
And be thyself our Prince of Peace
 
Virtue: Fortitude – “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause.”[i]A good king ensures firmness in the nation, especially in difficulties. A good king “stays the course” and is constant and unwavering in the pursuit of good. Through the virtue of fortitude we share in the firmness of Christ who is the cornerstone. When we think of our origin, which is of clay or dust, we see how week or flimsy we truly are. Clay is slippery or slimy, not firm at all. We are the clay and God is the potter and we are made firm through the virtue of fortitude.

Search: Confirmation: The gift of strength
 
Sacraments: Confirmation – “The sacrament of confirmation strengthens the baptized and obliges them more firmly to be witnesses of Christ by word and deed and to spread and defend the faith. It imprints a character, enriches by the gift of the Holy Spirit the baptized continuing on the path of Christian initiation, and binds them more perfectly to the Church.”[ii] Confirmation is the gift of strength. The word “firm” is not only contained within the word “Confirmation”, but firmness is what is conferred in this sacrament. Confirmation strengthens baptismal graces and gives us the ability to imitate Christ as a good leader by be a firm witness to Christ and both spreading and defending the faith as a good King spreads and defends his kingdom.
 
Search: Confirmation: Personal Pentecost
 
Reflection:
O King of Nations! thou art approaching still nigher to Bethlehem, where thou art to be born. The journey is almost over, and thy august Mother, consoled and strengthened by the dear weight she bears, holds an unceasing converse with thee on the way. She adores thy divine Majesty; she gives thanks to thy mercy; she rejoices that she has been chosen for the sublime ministry of being Mother to God. She longs for that happy moment when her eyes shall look upon thee, and yet she fears it. For, how will she be able to render thee those services which are due to thy infinite greatness, she that thinks herself the last of creatures? How will she dare to raise thee up in her arms, and press thee to her heart, and feed thee at her breasts? When she reflects that the hour is now near at hand, in which, being born of her, thou wilt require all her care and tenderness, her heart sinks within her; for, what human heart could bear the intense vehemence of these two affections, - the love of such a Mother for her Babe, and the love of such a Creature for her God? But thou supportest her, O thou the Desired of Nations! for thou, too, longest for that happy Birth, which is to give the earth its Saviour, and to men that Corner-Stone, which will unite them all into one family. Dearest King! be thou blessed for all these wonders of thy power and goodness! Come speedily, we beseech thee, come and save us, for we are dear to thee, as creatures that have been formed by thy divine hands. Yea, come, for thy creation has grown degenerate; it is lost; death has taken possession of it: take it thou again into thy almighty hands, and give it a new creation; save it; for thou hast not ceased to take pleasure in and love thine own work.

[i] Catechism of the Catholic Church; Section 1808
[ii] Code of Cannon Law; 879