Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior (Entrance Antiphon of the Mass: Fourth Sunday of Advent, Annunciation of the Lord). The Rorate Caeli so perfectly shows forth the mystery of todays solemnity. I get chills every time I sing and contemplate it. It is overflowing with symbolic meaning. The dew that we implore to drop down from heaven is the same dew that brought manna to the Jews as they wandered in the desert, a symbol that prefigures the Eucharist—the Bread from heaven; the Just One who comes down like rain from the clouds. The earth is a symbol of Mary, who freely received this gift of God the Father from heaven, and bore and cultivated it in her womb. In this prayer we beg for the earth to be opened (that is, Marys womb), so that she herself can bring forth the Savior of the world. Historically, this happened only once, over two thousand years ago. In the liturgy, however, we not only recall this past event, but enter into and participate in the mystery and reality of the event year after year. Mary, Mother of our Savior, pray for us!
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:56:56 +0000
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