Advent ‘O’ Antiphons
The Advent ‘O’ ANTIPHONS ARE SAID BEFORE AND AFTER the MAGNIFICAT
My soul rejoices in the Lord
SAY ANTIPHON FOR THE DAY
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
SAY ANTIPHON FOR THE DAY
ADVENT ‘O’ ANTIPHONS
The Great O Antiphons are seven brief prayers that are traditionally sung on successive evenings starting on 17th December. These ancient supplications beautifully express the Christian Church’s profound yearning for her long expected Saviour. The O Antiphons form the basis of the popular Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, by English hymn writer John Neale.
The Great O Antiphons are rich in meaning and nuance. Each antiphon begins with the acclamation ‘O’, addresses Christ by one of his messianic titles from the Old Testament and ends with a heartfelt plea for his coming. The sequence of the antiphons is theologically precise, progressing from before the creation of the universe, through the messianic prophecies of Israel, and culminating with the Incarnation and birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
The initials of each Latin title – Sapienta, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex and Emmanuel – combine to form SARCORE. When this is arranged backwards it spells the phrase ERO CRAS which means ‘Tomorrow I shall come’.
O Sapientia - December 17th
O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.
O Adonai - December 18th
O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.
O Radix Jesse - December 19th
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 Clavis David - December 20th
O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; 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 Oriens - December 21st
O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O Rex Gentium - December 22nd
O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay.
O Emmanuel - December 23rd
O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Saviour. O come and save us, Lord, our God.
Christians since the Middle Ages have been fascinated by this coincidence because Christmas Eve (24 December) falls on the day after the singing of the final antiphon.