The Marvelous “O” Antiphons of Advent

What songs can you come up with beginning with the letter, “O?” Think along the lines of being patriotic… How about our national anthem for one? “O say can you see…” What about our neighbor, Canada, across the St. Clair River? It’s national anthem also begins with “O.” “O Canada, our home and native land…” Now that we are in Advent, the secular Christmas tune, “O Christmas tree” comes to mind. The beautiful, religious Christmas song like “O Little Town of Bethlehem” may bring back some good memories for us too. Are there any other “O” songs I am missing?

There is nothing missing from our liturgical calendar during the period from Dec. 17th-23rd, because something significant takes place in this octave (eight days) before Christmas. You may not know that it is a period when the marvelous “O” Antiphons of Advent are either recited or sung. These particular “O” Antiphons are the verses for the ancient hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” and they refer to the names or titles of Christ, whose attributes are mentioned in Scripture.

First, what is an “antiphon?” It is a short sentence that is either sung or recited before or after a psalm, for example. Also, an antiphon could be sung in place of the opening hymn at the beginning of Mass. In addition, antiphons are recited or sung during the Liturgy of the Hours – the daily prayers of the Church (e.g. Morning Prayer/Lauds and Evening Prayer/Vespers). In this specific time during the week before Christmas (Dec. 17th – 23rd), the “O” Antiphons are recited or sung each day during Evening Prayer before the Magnificat canticle and then repeated again afterward. (FYI – A canticle is a hymn or chant – “little song” typically with a biblical text that forms a regular part of the liturgy). Also, the Magnificat recalls Mary’s joyful song of praise to God (Lk. 1:46-55) in which Mary encountered her cousin Elizabeth at the Visitation.

According to the U.S. Bishops website, usccb.org, these seven antiphons “are a magnificent theology that use ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative ‘Come!’ embodies the long of all for the Divine Messiah.” Furthermore, each title or antiphon refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. If one starts with the last Messianic title from Dec. 23rd – Dec. 17th and then takes the first letter of each one of those Latin words: Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, and Sapientia, the Latin words ERO CRAS are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.”

The “O” antiphons that have been sung or recited in the Church since at least the eighth century are as follows:

December 17: O Wisdom (Sapientia) of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18: O Leader/Lord (Adonai) of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!

December 19: O Root (Radix) of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!

December 20: O Key (Clavis) of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21: O Radiant Dawn/Rising Sun/Dayspring (Oriens), splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22: O King of All Nations (Rex Gentium) and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

December 23: O (Emmanuel) with us is God, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!

* Latin words are in italics

In The Spirit of Joy for the Coming of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

– Fr. Jeff

Source: www.usccb.org