Day 5 Antiphon

O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

Traditional

O Rising Dawn, splendor of eternal Light and Sun of Justice: come and illuminate those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

Latin: O Oriens

O Oriens, splendor lucis eterne, et sol justitia: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Hymn

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel.

(This version is so beautiful, I couldn’t cut it off, so it goes into the next antiphon.)

Homily from Mass in the Longest Night (21 December 2022)

Isaiah 9:1-2

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who lived in a land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing.

John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:78-79)

In the tender mercy of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me.

Malachi 3:20

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Justice
will arise with healing in its wings;
And you will go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Creator of the Stars of Night

Come in your holy might, we pray,
Redeem us for eternal day;
Defend us while we dwell below
From all assaults of our dread foe.