The “O Antiphons” of Advent

One of the Church’s ancient liturgical traditions, dating back to at least the 8th century, is the use of the “O Antiphons” for this final week of Advent — our final preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  Each of these antiphons points to a Scriptural title of Christ found in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  It would be a good preparation for Christmas to meditate on these ancient texts:

December 17th:

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.

December 18th:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush

and gave him the law on Sinai:

Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

December 19th:

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

December 20th:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 21st:

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22nd:

O King of the nations, and their desire,

the cornerstone making both one:

Come and save the human race,

which you fashioned from clay.

December 23rd:

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,

the hope of the nations and their Saviour:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Do these “O Antiphons” seem vaguely familiar?  They are the basis for the Latin/English hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel!”