The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion in which a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn with no lighting other than candles on the altar, windowsills, and handheld. Those who attend can expect to be rewarded with a uniquely beautiful Mass.
The Mass takes its title, Rorate Caeli (“Drop down dew, ye heavens”) from the initial Latin words of Isaiah 45:8.
Let justice descend, you heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the clouds drop it down.
Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;
let righteousness spring up with them!* I, the LORD, have created this.
In the dimly lit setting, priest and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our faith is illumined by Christ.
We will have a 2nd Mass on Saturday, December 16th at 6:00 AM as well.