Replies

O Antiphon Tree Decorations

Instructions on how to make some Christmas tree decorations with the symbols of "O" Antiphons.

Decorations for the Christmas tree, itself a symbol of the tree of life, can be made from paper or cookie dough, with simple patterns designed for the "O" antiphons. The "O" antiphons are the introductory verses taken from the Divine Office for the last seven days before Christmas. They call out to Christ in words of the Old Testament, bidding Him hurry and come. We can use the "O" antiphons with our night prayers during this last week of Advent. Here are some suggestions for the symbols.

O Wisdom — a triangle for the Trinity, eternal seat of wisdom.
O Adonai — a flame for the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses.
O Root of Jesse — a simple flower recalling that Jesus is the son of David, son of Jesse.
O Key of David — a key, for Christ, the key to salvation.
O Rising Dawn — a sun with flames for Christ, sun of justice.
O King of the Gentiles — a crown to show Christ is king of all men.
O Emmanuel — a manger, because Emmanuel means God-with-us.

The symbols may be cut from construction paper (double-thickness for sturdiness), decorated with paint, ink, or glitter, and hung from the tree by a thread. They will provide a rich conversation piece during all the Christmas season. The cookies may be cut from paper patterns in the different shapes, or the symbols may be painted with vegetable coloring (as above) on round cookies, in which a hole is cut before baking. After serving as Christmas tree decorations, they are eventually eaten. And this could recall the spirit of the psalmist when he wrote: "Taste and see how good the Lord is." (Psalm 33:9).

Activity Source: Homemade Christians by Mary Reed Newland, George A. Pflaum, Dayton, Ohio, 1964

O Antiphons ~ Radiant Dawn

5th O Antiphon:

Radiance of eternal light,
And sun of justice,

COME
Enlighten those sitting in darkness, And in the shadow of death

O eternal Sun, come and enlighten us, for where Thou art not, there is darkness, death, and wickedness. "Come and enlighten all who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."

"But now [you are] light in the Lord" (Eph. 5:18). In the Church the light has now appeared to us on the first Christmas night, on the day of our baptism, daily in the Mass and at the time of Holy Communion, and in the many inspirations and promptings of grace. How thankful we should be for this light, which is Christ.

But we have yet to reach the full measure of the stature of Christ. Alas! we let ourselves be burdened by earthly sorrow, we are distracted by the excitement of the moment, and our spiritual growth is hampered by our attachment to the things of this world. Fervently we should repeat that plea of Holy Mother the Church. "0 dawning Sun of righteousness, come and enlighten us, who yet sit in the darkness of suffering, of human reasoning, and of self-love."

The light of Christ will be revealed perfectly only when we meet Him at the time of His second coming. Then we shall be brought into the light of glory, and we shall "shine as the sun in the kingdom of the Father" (Matt. 13:48). "Sown in corruption we shall rise in incorruption" (I Cor. 15:42). May the day of enlightenment come soon!

Excerpted from The Light of the World by Benedict Baur, O.S.B.