During the final days of Advent, the anticipation increases as the birth of the Savior draws nearer and nearer. In the eight days before Christmas this anticipation is marked by something special that happens in the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The antiphons of Evening Prayer (Vespers) during the week before Christmas welcome the birth of the Savior by heralding one of His resplendent Biblical titles along with a special petition in light of that title.
It is a liturgical tradition started in the earliest centuries of the Church and continues in monasteries and convents today, and even in homes of the Catholic faithful who make portions of the Divine Office part of their daily prayers.
THE “O” ANTIPHONS
The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are prayed immediately before the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours (or the Divine Office). Each antiphon begins with the exclamation “O”, thus earning their popular name of the “O Antiphons.” They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, from Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Vespers of the Christmas Vigil.
THE PROPHETIC TITLES OF JESUS
The O Antiphons are special because each one emphasizes a different prophetic title of the soon-to-be-born King of Kings as foreshadowed in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah: Wisdom, Lord of Israel, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Radiant Dawn, King of All Nations, and Emmanuel.
Additionally, the ancient monks who first assembled the O Antiphons were very creative with the order in which they are prayed. If one takes the first letter of each antiphon (in the Latin) starting from the last to the first, the word ERO CRAS is formed which translates, “Tomorrow I will come.”
MORE INFORMATION
The O Antiphons are also the content of the popular Christmas hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. For the complete Latin and English translation of the O Antiphons found in the Liturgy of the Hours, the Lectionary for Mass, the O Come, O Come, Emmanuel hymn, and the corresponding verses from Sacred Scripture on which they are based, check out the Roman Catholic Lectionary Website. You can also listen to the O Antiphons in their original context, being chanted in latin by monks, here.
PRAY THE O ANTIPHONS
Listed below are the O Antiphons, which are prayed before and after the Magnificat during Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Liturgy of the Hours. I encourage you to make a new tradition this year to pray these antiphons on the eight nights before Christmas to help you welcome the newborn King. You can pray them by themselves if you are short on time, or pray them in their context of Evening Prayer. You can pray along with the Divine Office daily by signing up for our Morning Offering Daily Devotional Email.
O Wisdom
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.
(December 17)
Latin
O Sapientia,
quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter,
suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
O Lord of Israel
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.
(December 18)
Latin
O Adonai,
et dux domus Israël,
qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
O Root of Jesse
O Root of Jesse,
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.
(December 19)
Latin
O Radix Jesse,
qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos,
jam noli tardare.
O Key of David
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.
(December 20)
Latin
O Clavis David,
et sceptrum domus Israël,
qui aperis, et nemo claudit,
claudis, et nemo aperuit:
veni, et educ vinctum
de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.
O Radiant Dawn
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
(December 21)
Latin
O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae,
et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina
sedentes in tenebris,
et umbra mortis.
O King of All Nations
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.
(December 22)
Latin
O Rex Gentium,
et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis,
qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.
O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver,
desire of the nations, Savior of all people:
Come and set us free, Lord our God.
(December 23)
Latin
O Emmanuel,
Rex et legifer noster,
expectatio gentium,
et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos,
Domine, Deus noster.