12/16/2023
O Antiphons
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14
The "O Antiphons" were first used by the Church in the 8th and 9th centuries. They refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman Catholic Church. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. O Antiphons are based on various titles used for the Christ and are scripturally-based short prayers. In these "O Antiphons" the Church expresses her deep longing for the coming of the Messiah.
The Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is based on the "O Antiphons" and was written sometime during the 9th Century.
The exact origin of the “O Antiphons” is not known. Boethius (c. 480-524) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence at that time. At the Benedictine abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they are in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. The usage of the “O Antiphons” was so prevalent in monasteries that the phrases, “Keep your O” and “The Great O Antiphons” were common parlance. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the “O Antiphons” have been part of our liturgical tradition since the very early Church.
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. Remember “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.”
According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. 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.
Scripture References
Dec 17 O Wisdom: Proverbs 1:20; 8; 9 and I Corinthians 1:30
Dec. 17: Sirach 24:2, Wisdom 8:1
Dec 18 O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel: Exodus 3; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6
Dec. 18: Exodus 3:2; 20:1
Dec 19 O Root of Jesse: Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5
Dec 19: Isaiah 11:1-3
Dec 20 O Key of David: Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7
Dec. 20: Isaiah 22:22
Dec 21 O Dawn of the East (Dayspring): Luke 1:78, 79; Malachi 4:2
Dec. 21: Psalm 19:6-7
Dec 22 O King of the Gentiles (Nations): Revelation 15:3; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; I Peter 2:6
Dec. 22: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20
Dec 23 O Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; Matthew 1:23; Haggai 2:7 (KJV)
Dec. 23: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22
Dec. 24: John 1:1-14.
