A Votive Mass in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Advent will be offered on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 7:00AM in the Church of St. Titus, Aliquippa, with Fr. Joachim Morgan, OSB, as the celebrant.
Rorate Caeli is Latin and the first words of an Introit or entrance antiphon based on Isaiah 45:8.
“Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.”
In English, this translates to: “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior.”
A Rorate Caeli Mass is celebrated in Advent, prior to dawn, as a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mass is only lit by candles, representing Mary’s role in bringing the 'Light of Life’ into the darkness of the world.
♦
'If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the road pregnant with the Holy and say,
“I need shelter for the night. Please take me inside your heart, my time is so close.”
Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime intimacy, the divine, the Christ, taking birth forever, as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us. Yes, there, under the dome of your being, does creation come into existence eternally, through your womb, dear pilgrim, the sacred womb of your soul, as God grasps our arms for help: for each of us is His beloved servant never far. If you want, the virgin will come walking down the street, pregnant with Light, and sing!'
— St. John of the Cross
(Please note there will be no 8:30AM Mass offered on this day.)