Dec 17 - O Antiphons


Today begins the O Antiphons!


Do you have a tradition to celebrate and recognize the O Antiphons?  In our family we set up a "Jesse Tree" and each day, starting with today, December 17, we hang a different "O" from the O Antiphons. 
"The importance of O Antiphons is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah...
If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, Tomorrow, I will come. Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, Tomorrow, I will come. So the O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion." (What Are the O Antiphons)

Isaiah 11:1-2:
And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root.
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness.

The O Antiphons are put to verse in a very popular Advent carol, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." (Play the YouTube video at the top of this article).

Day One we sing:

[Verse 6]
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things, far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go.


[Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel


And we pray:
Latin:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
English:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.


References:

O Antiphons - Wiki - Retrieved from: 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4



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