On December 17th, the Church’s Advent liturgy begins to focus
in a more particular way on the Nativity of the Lord. The prayers, readings,
preface at Mass, as well as the readings, antiphons for the Gospel canticles,
intercessions, and prayers at the Liturgy of the Hours concentrate more
resolutely than during the preceding days of Advent on the coming feast of the
Nativity of the Lord. Our attention is fixed on the messianic promises
proclaimed by the ancient prophets of Israel.
The seven great “O Antiphons” have a
particular role in these days. Each antiphon, always sung in a very similar
melody, begins with 'O' and addresses Christ with a unique title from the
prophecies of Isaiah and Micah. Each is followed by a petition for God's people
relevant to the title by which He is addressed, and the cry
for Jesus to COME to us (veni) and act on our
behalf:
December 17: O Wisdom, O Holy Word of God, you
govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people
the way to salvation. (Isaiah 11:2-3; Wisdom 8:1; Proverbs 9:1)
December 18: O Sacred Lord of Ancient Israel, who showed yourself to
Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come,
stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. (Exodus 3:1-8; 20:1-20; Deuteronomy
26:5-9)
December 19:
O Flower of Jesse’s Stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all
peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship
before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. (Isaiah 11:1-4;
45:23; 52:13; Luke 1:32-33)
December 20:
O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate
of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in
darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.
(Isaiah 22:22; 42:6-7; Luke 4:16-19)
December 21: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. (Malachi
3:20; Isaiah 9:1; Psalm 107:14)
December 22: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human
heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you
fashioned from the dust. (Isaiah 28:16; Genesis 2:7; Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter
2:4-5)
December 23:
O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver, Desire of the Nations, Savior of all
People, come and set us free, Lord our God. (Isaiah 7:14; Malachi 3:1; Matt 1:21-23)
·
December 17:
O Sapientia (O
Wisdom)
· December 18: O
Adonai (O Lord)
· December 19: O Radix
Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
· December 20: O Clavis
David (O Key of David)
· December 21: O
Oriens (O Daystar) (after this date, days get
longer)
· December 22: O Rex
Gentium (O King of the
Nations)
· December 23: O
Emmanuel (O God-with-Us)
When taken
together from the
last title to
the first,
the first letters
of each title form a wonderful Latin acrostic:
This is the Lord’s response
to
the Church’s ardent petition that He COME
(veni):
Ero
cras
(I will be there tomorrow)!
The “O Antiphons” not only bring holy intensity to our Advent
preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
NOTE: Some have used the O Antiphons as the basis of a rich Novena
up to and including Christmas Day.
Perhaps this "last lap" of Advent could also include
daily Mass and/or daily Adoration.
O come, O
come, Emmanuel!
The song
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is simply a reworking of the O Antiphons. When
you sing it, you are joining a vast throng of Christians stretching back
across centuries and spanning the whole of the earth who prayed as
all Christians do, "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20)
Expectation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary
More on the 'O
Antiphons': http://fisheaters.com/customsadvent10.html
Dearest Holy
Father...
78 years old
today
You have the
pledge of our prayers!
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