He’s Coming! The Great O Antiphons

He’s coming!  And as the Church anticipates the coming of the Messiah at Christmas, we sing the joyful O Antiphons at Vespers during this last week of Advent.

Each of the O Antiphons reminds us of a different title for Christ, highlighting one of his attributes; and each refers to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.

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The O Antiphons are:

• December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
• December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
• December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
• December 23: O Emmanuel (O With Us Is God)  

The popular Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is drawn from the O Antiphons.  Written in France in the 17^th century, the hymn was translated into English in the 19^th century and set to the beautiful plainchant melody we know today.  The text of the hymn, though, dates back to the 9^th century and earlier, and is taken from the Church’s daily prayer of adoration and praise, the Liturgy of the Hours.

Here is O Adonai, the antiphon for December 18, sung by the Dominican student brothers in Oxford.

<str
ong>THE O ANTIPHONS

+O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together with your strong yet gentle care. O come to teach us the way of truth.

+O Lord of Might and Leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.

+O Stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.

+O Key of David and Sceptre of Israel, what you open no one can close; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

+O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

+ O King of the Nations, whom all peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.

+O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the nations desire and the Savior of all people. O come and save us, Lord our God.

Image:  By Benedictine monastery of Podlažice [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons