The "O Antiphons" of Advent

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Since the 8th century the Western Church has celebrated the last seven days of Advent with the “O Antiphons”.

An English medieval practice was to add an eighth antiphon, O Virgo virginum, on December 23rd, and move the others back one day, thus beginning the series on 16th December. 

The antiphons beg God to come and save His people. The order of the antiphons climb climatically through our history of Redemption. The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first (Latin) letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words "ero cras" are formed, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come." 


December 17th: O Sapientia 

O Wisdom (Sir 24:3),
You came forth from the mouth of the Most High (Sir 24:3),
and reaching from beginning to end You ordered all things mightily and sweetly (Wis 8:1).
Come, and teach us the way of prudence (Isa 40:14).


December 18th: O Adonai 

O Lord (Exod 3:14)
and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2:6; Micah 5:1; 2 Sam 5:2),
You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3:2)
and on Mount Sinai gave him Your Law (Exod 20).
Come, and with an outstretched arm redeem us (Jer 32:21).

December 19th: O Radix Jesse

O Root of Jesse, (Isaiah 11:1)
You stand for the ensign of mankind (Isa 11:10);
before You kings shall keep silence and to You all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52:15).
Come, save us, and do not delay (Habakkuk 2:3).


December 20th : O Clavis David 

O Key of David, (Isa 22:22; Rev 3:7)
and Scepter of the house of Israel (Nums 24:17):
You open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isa 22:22).
Come, deliver him from chains who sits in darkness in the shadow of death (Ps 107:10).

December 21st: O Oriens

O Rising Dawn, (Jer 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12),
Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3:4; Wis 7:26; Heb 1:3)
and Sun of Justice (Mal 3:20):
Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107:10; Lk 1:78)


December 22nd: O Rex Gentium

O King of the Gentiles (Jeremiah 10:7; Haggai 2:7),
and the Desired of all,
You are the Cornerstone that binds two into one (Isaiah 28:16; Math 21:42; Ephes 2:20).
Come, and save man whom You fashioned out of clay (Gen 2:7).


December 23rd: O Emmanuel 

O Emmanuel (Isa 7:14; 8:8; Luke 1:31-33),
our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Eze 21:32),
the Expected of the nations and their Saviour (Isa 33:22):
Come, and save us, O Lord our God.


December 23rd: O Virgo Virginium 

O Virgin of virgins how shall this be?
For neither before you was there any like you, nor shall there be after.
Daughters of Jerusalem why do you marvel at me?
The thing you behold is a divine mystery.




Location: United Kingdom

Comments

  1. Cressida de Nova17 December 2022 at 04:23

    Plain Song is beautiful and moving.....and so is this

    “I love thee Lord Jesus
    Look down from the sky
    And stay by my side
    Until morning is nigh
    Be near me Lord Jesus
    I ask thee to stay
    Close by me forever
    And love me I pray”
    (AWAY IN A MANGER )

    ReplyDelete
  2. 雲水17 December 2022 at 09:34

    I love the O Antiphons, they're sublime when sung well.

    We're starting off with Veni, veni, Emmanuel tonight, which draws them together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy Jack17 December 2022 at 15:49

      It's believed that by the 12th century five of the verses had been put together to form the verses of a single hymn, with the refrain "Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel nascetur pro te, Israel" ("Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel; Shall come to thee, O Israel"). There was no refrain in the original Latin chant.

      Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

      Delete
  3. Anonymous17 December 2022 at 12:17

    Something new for me. Quite austere but not unlikeable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17 December 2022 at 12:18

      Say Gadjo... but seems to be anon here.

      Delete
    2. Happy Jack17 December 2022 at 17:18

      @ Anon/Gadjo
      Don't forget to use a Google account when commenting - or, alternatively, you can scroll down on the comment page and give your name rather that clicking 'anonymous'.

      Delete
  4. Pubcrawler17 December 2022 at 15:14

    O Adonai

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happy Jack17 December 2022 at 15:58

    @ Pubcrawler
    Jack is a 'Catholic Onlyism' so far as the seven Antiphons are concerned!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pubcrawler17 December 2022 at 20:19

    Was England not Catholic when O Virgo virginum was added?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Jack17 December 2022 at 20:34

    @ Pubcrawler
    Does the sun rise in the morning? Jack will add it at the close.
    He just prefers the Benedictine order because, as explained, they purposely arranged the antiphons with the Latin words "ero cras" in mind, i.e., "Tomorrow, I will come."

    ReplyDelete

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