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The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) during the Alleluia verse at Mass and during the Liturgy of the Hours in the octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23. These seven days mark an intense period of preparation during the final time of Advent, giving us different titles with which to understand the coming Christ. The origin of the O Antiphons is at least from the early 6th century, referenced by Boethius.Put together, the daily titles work as an acrostic statement, taking the first letter of each to form an even greater meaning. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, Tomorrow, I will come. The O Antiphons, therefore, intensifies our Advent waiting, joyfully preparing for tomorrow, Christmas.
Follow daily below for a reflection on each title.
December 23rd - O Emmanuel (God with Us)
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
In the final O Antiphon, we receive Jesus' most complete title: Emmanuel. God has come to His people in an unparalleled way in the birth of the Savior.
This is referred to by the Prophet Isaiah:
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
December 22nd - Rex Gentium (King of the Nations)
His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)
Jesus comes as a king -- not just in the Davidic line but of all the nations.
This is referred to by the Prophet Isaiah twice:
And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. (Isaiah 2:4)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom you have made out of the dust of the earth!
December 21st - O Oriens (Radiant Dawn)
The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. (Isaiah 9:2)
Jesus comes as the breaking dawn, offering new orientation.
This is referred to by the prophets twice:
For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that comes shall set them on fire, says the Lord of hosts, it shall not leave them root, nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd. And you shall tread down the wicked when they shall be ashes under the sole of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
December 20th - O Clavis David (Key of David)
And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. (22:22)
Jesus comes as a king -- perhaps different from expectations, but a king still. Therefore, he has the power and authority as such.
This is referred to by the Prophet Isaiah twice:
For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace. (9:6)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
December 19th - O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. (Isaiah 11:1)
Jesus comes as the fulfillment of God's promise, emerging from the line of King David and his father Jesse.
This is referred to many times in scripture:
In that day the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the people, him the Gentiles shall seek out, and his dwelling shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha, least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:1)
For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to you, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to your name. And again he says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people. And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people. And again Isaiah says: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing; that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:8-13)
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:1-5)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
O Root of Jesse, which stands as a sign for the people, at whom the kings shall close their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
December 18th - O Adonai (Lord)
But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the girdle of his reins. (11:4-5)
Jesus is the Lord, our God from of old, the Law bearer.
This is referred to in Isaiah's prophecies twice:
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king: he will save us. (33:22)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who did appear to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law at Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
December 17th - O Sapientia (Wisdom)
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. (11:2-3)
Jesus is the Wisdom of God, the Divine Word that gives logic and life to our undertakings.
This is referred to in Isaiah's prophecies twice:
This also is come forth from the Lord God of hosts, to make his counsel wonderful, and magnify justice. (28:29)
Listen to the antiphon chanted in Latin.
O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reaches from one end to another, and orderes all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!