From at least the eighth century, the antiphon before and after the Magnificat at Vespers (Evening Prayer), for the seven days leading up to Christmas Eve, has greeted Christ with a title starting with “O”. These became the basis of the popular carol “O come, O come, Emmanuel”.
O Emmanuel,
our King and Lawgiver,
hope of the nations and their saviour:
come and save us, O Lord our God.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Emmanuel – December 23 Read More »
O king of the nations,
you alone can fulfil their desires: cornerstone,
binding all together:
come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust of the earth.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Rex Gentium – O sovereign of the nations – December 22 Read More »
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
O Oriens – O Dawn – December 21 Read More »
I hear and read people referring to the use of the O Antiphons – especially in explaining the origin of “O come, O come, Emmanuel” -in the past tense (“these were used…).
O Clavis David – O Key of David – December 20 Read More »
O come, thou root of Jesse! Draw
the quarry from the lion’s claw;
from those dread caverns of the grave,
from nether hell thy people save.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Radix Jesse – O Root of Jesse – December 19 Read More »
O come, O come, Adonai,
who in thy glorious majesty
from Sinai’s mountain, clothed in awe,
gavest thy folk the ancient law.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Adonai – O Lord of might – 18 December Read More »
O come, thou wisdom from on high
Who madest all in earth and sky,
Creating us from dust and clay:
To us reveal salvation’s way.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Sapientia – O Wisdom – 17 December Read More »
