The whole of today's liturgy is filled with the thought of Isaias (whose name means 'the Lord saves '), since he is beyond all others, the prophet who proclaims the coming of Christ the Redeemer. He foretold seven centuries before, that "a virgin" should "conceive and bear" a son, "Emmanuel" (Isaias 7:14), and that God would send His "angel", that it is John the Baptist who should "prepare His way before Him (Gospel) and the Messias should come clothed with the power of God Himself to free all nations from the bondage of Satan. "The ox," says Isaias, meaning the Gentiles, "knoweth his owner and the ass his master's crib, but Israel hath not known me and my people have not understood (Is. 1:3). "The root of Jesse," he goes on, "shall rise up to rule the nations (Epistle), and the deaf and the blind, plunged in darkness, that is the heathen, shall hear the words of release and shall see (Gospel). Then shall the true Jerusalem, that is the Church, "tremble with joy (Communion), for all the nations, sanctified by Christ shall flow unto it." (Gradual). [The Jews say that by this "root " is meant the kingly power of the Messias. It is our Lord's sceptre, meaning His Cross, for as David declares. "It is from the tree that God will rule the nations."]
"The Messias," as Isaias explains, "will establish salvation in Sion and glory in Jerusalem," "Sion shall be strong, for the Lord shall be its wall and its bulwark," that is, its powerful protector
The Station takes place at Rome in the church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem which was built by St. Helena to receive the relic of the Holy Cross.
Veni, Domine, * visitare nos in pace, ut laetemur coram te corde perfecto.
Come, O Lord, visit us in peace, that we may rejoice before Thee with a perfect heart.
(Magnificat Antiphon from Vespers of the Saturday)
Populus Sion, ecce Dominus veniet ad salvandas gentes: et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suae in laetitia cordis vestri. * Qui regis Israel intende: qui deducis velut ovem, Joseph.
People of Sion, behold the Lord will come to save the Gentiles: and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard to the joy of your hearts. * Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
(Isaias 30:30 and Psalm 79:2 from the Introit of Mass)
Excita, Domine, corda nostra ad praeparandas Unigeniti tui vias: ut per ejus adventum, purificatis tibi mentibus servire mereamur.
Stir up, O Lord, our hearts to prepare the ways of thy only-begotten Son: that by his coming we may be enabled to serve thee with pure minds.
(Collect)
Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
At that time: When John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer, said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them: and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitude, concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
(St Matthew 11:2-10)
Repleti cibo spiritualis alimoniae, supplices te, Domine deprecamur: ut hujus participatione mysterii, doceas nos terrena despicere et amare caelestia.
Filled with the food of this spiritual nourishment, we suppliantly entreat Thee, O Lord, that through our participation in this Mystery Thou wouldst teach us to despise earthly things and to love heavenly ones.
(Postcommunion)
Tu es qui venturus es, * an alium exspectamus? Dicite Joanni quae vidistis: Ad lumen redeunt caeci, mortui resurgunt, pauperes evangelizantur, alleluia.
Art thou He that art to come, or look we for another? Relate to John what you have seen: The blind recover their sight, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them, alleluia.
(Antiphon at the Magnificat: Matthew 11:3-5)
Dom Gueranger on the Second Sunday of Advent: http://www.liturgialatina.org/lityear/advent/sunday2.htm
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