THE GREAT "O"s

 

Today we start singing the Great ”Os” at Vespers.  Having been taught by the very well educated Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet  in my grammar school years, I am always glad to find some news of them, and this artist is right for the season of Advent.

SISTER ANSGAR HOLMBERG, C.S.J., 87, did a colorful series of the O ANTIPHONS,  which she said she painted for herself not to edify or instruct anyone. She created these seven paintings over the course of three years as a personal way to contemplate Scripture.

December 17 ~ O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

“I didn’t have any rules or laws or requests put upon me, but it was my own expression of where I was at that time as I worked with these. I put my own spin on it, and it went a bit more cosmic."

She studied with Ade Bethune, but her work took on a more colorful folk style as she progressed as an artist. Unlike Ade, she does not create for a liturgical purpose, rather, her art results from her own spiritual journey and life changes.

These O Antiphons, as they are known, were composed in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts from the Old Testament which looked forward to the coming of our salvation. They start on December 17 and are sung before the Magnificat  at Vespers seven days before the vigil of Christmas. Each each begin with the exclamation “O” and end with a plea for the Messiah to come.

December 18 ~ O Adonai, sacred One of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy way on Sinai mountain; come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

Sister Ansgar joined the St. Jospeh's in 1953 and has been painting since her childhood years. She credits her parochial school teachers for introducing art as a way to understand the church’s liturgical year and spirituality.

I certainly experienced this in my own childhood. Trips to museums were a yearly pilgrimage as well as visits to  lovely churches to study the glass windows.

 Sr. Ansgar recalled. Working as a teacher in Catholic elementary and middle schools, Sr. Ansgar found inspiration from the children she taught and continues to teach through her illustrations in children’s books. 

Now retired, Sr. Ansgar moved to Carondelet Village in 2012 where she lives among her CSJ sisters and neighbors from all walks of life. She says that being an artist is her current vocation, striving to reflect the CSJ call “to love God and neighbor without distinction.”  

December 21 ~ O Dayspring  O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

She says that her ideas arise from her own spiritual journey and flow from scripture, neighborhood, experiences in other cultures such as Guatemala and Africa, people’s ordinary everyday words and, of course, children. Her art teems with images that reference biblical, historical and world events.

 “I like to illustrate scriptural events and the parables of Jesus and how they relate to our time.” The characters in her paintings reflect her deep commitment to inclusivity of genders, ages, races and cultures. “I want people to see themselves in these pictures.”  

December 20 ~  O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel opening at your will the gate of heaven: come break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.