O Emmanuel!
O Emmanuel, God with us, our Kind and lawgiver the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.
O Emmanuel
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Category Archives: advent. o antiphons
O Rex Gentium
O King of the Nations,
O Rex Gentium,
O King of the Gentiles and desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one, come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
O Oriens
O Rising Dawn,
O Oriens,
O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death
O Clavis David
O Key of David,
O Clavis David,
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens; Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse,
O Radix Jesse,
O root of Jesse, that stans for an ensign of the people, before whom the kinds keep silence and unto whom the gentiles shall make supplication Come, to deliver us, and tarry not.
O Adonai
O Lord and Ruler
O Adonai
“O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arms.”
O Wisdom
O Sapientia, O Wisdom,
O wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, come and teach us the way of prudence.
>O Antiphons
>The ” O! Antiphons ” are a strictly Advent tradition in the Church.
They are prayed during vespers in the liturgy of the hours.
They are prayed just before the Magnificat, one of the most beautiful prayers of thanksgiving that we have.
Anyhow, I love the O antiphons for their long rich tradition, because they pull me back into Advent each night, and for the art that is tied to them as well. As usual, I love the whole rich woven package. What can I say, it’s a Catholic thing, I love it.
Here is an explanation of them, better than I could do:
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.
So, I’m putting up these antiphons each evening, just as a reminder to myself that we are waiting on the Messiah, and why.
Blessed Advent everyone!
Another Espresso, Please 