O Antiphons - December 17 - 23rd

The O Antiphons

The "O Antiphons" refer to the seven antiphons recited before the Magnificat at Vespers (evening prayers) during the Octave before Christmas Eve. Each Antiphon begins with “O” and addresses Jesus with a Messianic title from the prophecies of Isaiah and closes with a petition. Our Christmas hymn O Come O Come Emmanuel is patterned after these antiphons. There are several translation which take their poetic prose from the Holy Scripture. Below I have listed a common translation with the O Come Emmanuel verse following.

Sapientia (O Wisdom) 

O Wisdom, that proceedest from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from end to end mightily,

and sweetly disposing all things:

come and teach us the way of prudence.

(Isaiah 11:2-3; 28-29; Sirach 24:3; Wisdom 8:1)

O Come, O Wisdom from on high,

who orders all things mightily,

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go.

Adonai (O Lord) 

O Adonai, and Leader of the House of Israel,
who did appear unto Moses in the burning bush,
and gave Him the Law on Sinai:
come and redeem us by Thy outstretched arm.
(Isaiah 11:4-5; 33:22; Exodus 3:2,5, 13-14) 

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) 

O Root of Jesse
who stands for an ensign before the people,

before whom kings are mute
and to whom the nations will do homage:

Come quickly to deliver us.
(Isaiah 11:1-2, 10; Luke 1:32-33)

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
from ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.

Clavis David (O Key of David)

O Key of David, and scepter of the House of Israel,

who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens:

Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison,

he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
(Isaiah 22:22; 9:6; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 3:7)

 O come, Thou Key of David,

come, and open wide our heav’nly home,

Make safe the way that leads on high,

That we no more have cause to sigh.

Oriens ( O Rising Sun)

O Dawn of the east,
brightness of the light eternal,
and Son of Justice:

Come, and enlighten them that sit in darkenss
and in the shadow of death.
(Isaiah 9:1, 5-6 Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78-79)

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,

And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

Rex Gentium(O King of the Gentiles)

 O King of the gentiles/nations and their desired One,
the cornerstone that makes both one:
come, and deliver man,
whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
(Isaiah 2:4; Psalm 118:22; Mark 12:10; Ephesians 2:20)

O come Desire of nations,

bind in one the hearts of all mankind;

Bid every strife and quarrel cease

And fill the world with heaven’s peace.

Emmanuel 

O Our King and Lawgiver,

the Expected of the Nations

and their Savior,

come to save us, O Lord our God.
(Isaiah 7:14)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that morns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,

to thee shall come Emmanuel!

The first letter of each of the Latin O Antiphons combines to form SARCORE, which when arraigned backward spells the Latin phrase ERO CRAS meaning “I will be with you tomorrow.” And that He will, at Christms Vigil.........

Blessed Advent Season
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