The week ahead – from 21 to 27 December

The O Antiphons concluded. Ahaz: prayer vs. bothering God. Christmas starts the night before. Which is more important, Christmas or Easter? Incarnation, rescue and love. Stephen (and Paul). John . Episode notes.

The rose vestments on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. The beginning of the final countdown to Christmas. The ancient O Antiphons. The Latin hymns, and our project to record them. Episode notes.

More Isaiah. Rejoicing. Joy and pleasure and the true meaning of Christmas. Church liturgy and family liturgy. The story of the flaming Christmas pudding. How the Gospels this week explain Isaiah. The Immaculate Conception. Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. Episode notes.

Looking forward to the unknown Chr–––––s which is coming, just as the Jews looked forward to the unsuspected glory of the Nativity. Isaiah teaches us by looking beyond the turbulent history of his time. His daily prophecies, day by day. Subscribing to Universalis and giving it as a gift. Saint Francis Xavier; Saint Nicholas. Episode notes.

Preparation for Death (continued): Confession, The Sacrament of the Sick, Prayer.Conclusion. Episode notes.

Preparation for Death: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist. Episode notes.

Christ the King and ourselves as kings. “A king, not a thing”. How to live our kingship and respect the kingship of others. The Vietnamese martyrs, St Niels Steensen, the Holy Crucifix at Goa. Episode notes.

The Moment of Choice (continued): the Resurrection of the Body; Heaven. Episode notes.

The Moment of Choice: Judgement; Purgatory; Hell. Episode notes.

“Resurrection Is Now” and the power of reading aloud. “We are delighted to report the death of…” and gold vestments at funerals. The date of the end of the world: a thought-experiment. Wine; work; liturgy; and fulfilment for those who struggle after losing everything. The new colour selection feature in Universalis. Episode notes.