The 3rd Sunday of Advent is the Gaudete Sunday and a rose-coloured candle is lit on the advent wreath. (A proper advent wreath has 3 violet and one rose coloured candle)
Gaudete means “rejoice” …
When I looked for suitable music, I found this clip from last year. It’s the Christmas concert given by my little nephew’s school class and they sing – “Gaudete” as well as ” Joy to the world”…enjoy ( Philipp stands 4th from left in the front )
Adyashanti’s beautiful enquiry on the art and wisdom of non-doing
Enjoy
Another Giotto Madonna…
This is from his earlier work, still in the fashion of the Byzantine style but about to break free. Maybe this is why I am so drawn to Giotto. His artwork is all about giving the divine a human expression.
O Regem coeli, cui talia famulantur obsequia.
Stabulo proponitur qui continet mundum:
Iacet in praesepio, et in caelis regnat.
Alleluia.
∞
O King of heaven, served with such obedience!
He is laid in the stable who holds the world:
He lies in the manger and reigns in heaven. Alleluia.
Today is born a saviour.
who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David:
He lies in the manger and reigns in heaven. Alleluia.
Last year I have posted another version of this simple, beautiful motete. Tomas Luis de Victoria was a contemporary of Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross.
I absolutely adore Giotto. Giotto di Bondone (1266 – 1337), better known simply as Giotto, was an Italian painter and architect from Florence in the late Middle Ages. He is generally considered the first in a line of great artists who contributed to the Italian Renaissance. This is an especially beautiful piece ( Giotto, The Arena Chapel Frescoes TheNativity. 1305-1306)
Away in a manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.
My favorite nativity paintings are those of Giotto Bondone ( ca 1300)
I love nativities for their beauty and symbolism. This one is from an unknown Austrian artist ca 1400. Note the two young midwives and ox and ass, warming the manger with their breath….
in excelsis Deo, gloria.
Gloria, gloria, hallelujah,
Christ the Lord is born.
Friends on the path meet across continents and time zones for a shared enquiry. This week’s topic is all about the ubiquitous habit of “searching”. We all know there is nowhere to go and nothing to do, attain, achieve or know. Still, we are all waiting or longing or putting effort in practices to further our spiritual development. So when are we searching, what is it we are looking for, is searching always conscious and can it be stopped ?
It appears the youtube video got blocked in Germany due to a copyright issue.
Try the Vimeo version:
It started snowing on the blog ( and in my real life too…). So I thought it is about time to get friendly with the spirit and the magic of this season, that coincides with a feast called Christmas…
Enjoy
Michael Haydn, Anima Nostra
Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium.
Laqueus contritus est et nos liberati sumus.
“Our soul is like a bird that escaped the bird catcher’s net.
The net is torn and we are free.”
Psalm 124 (123) : 7
The Living Room 