Late Advent is a term given to the days from December 17th to the 23rd. The prayers of the Church during those days uses short pieces of religious texts which begin with “O”. The song, “O Come O Come Emmanuel” is based on these O Antiphons.

Advent is the time to prepare and to watch. What follows are parts of a sermon given by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman.

In December we celebrate Christ’s birth, but it is a month of feasts and of saints of every description.