Posted on 12/16/2008 6:54:01 PM PST by Salvation
Praying with the "O" Antiphons These O antiphons express the theology of Advent and are the seasons brightest jewels. The incarnation of the Son, salvation, the pursuit of our redemption until the end of time -- these are the constant themes of Advent theology. From them we can see that the celebration of Advent, like that of Christmas, has its true center in the paschal mystery, wherein the death and resurrection of Christ accomplishes our salvation. Walking down the side of the church where the "stations" are, we reflect on each of the O antiphons. |
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1st O Antiphon: O WISDOM O WISDOM, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with Your strong yet tender care. Come and show Your people the way to salvation Prayer: |
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2nd O Antiphon: O LORD OF ISRAEL O LORD OF ISRAEL, who showed Yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out Your mighty hand, to set us free. Prayer: |
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3rd O Antiphon: O FLOWER OF JESSE O FLOWER OF JESSE, You have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in Your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come, let nothing keep You from coming to our aid. Prayer: |
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4th O Antiphon: O KEY OF DAVID O KEY OF DAVID, O royal Power of Israel controlling at Your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and lead Your captive people into freedom. Prayer: |
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5th O Antiphon: O RISING DAWN O RISING DAWN, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. Prayer: |
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6th O Antiphon: O KING OF ALL NATIONS O KING OF ALL NATIONS, the only joy of every human heart: O Keystone of the mighty arch of man. Come and save the creatures you fashioned from the dust. Prayer: |
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7th O Antiphon: O EMMANUEL, GOD-WITH-US O GOD-WITH-US, Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, Come and set us free, Lord our God. Prayer: |
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Closing Prayer: We come here to call on our God to come to us, to be with us. The title Emmanuel, God-with-us, was given to Christ many centuries ago by the prophet Isaiah. Emmanuel symbolizes Gods great love for us -- so great that God put aside His Divinity and took on our humanity. We pray for our God to draw closer to us as individuals and as members of a community. We assemble before God as representatives of the people of the earth, eager to see peace and justice reign on the face of our troubled world. We pray to the Father, for the coming of the Son, through the working of the Holy Spirit. Amen |
The 'O' Antiphons -- Prayer Activity for Families
More Advent blessings with these daily devotionals. Thanks for posting.
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Or you can sing them -- Look up all the verses to "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."
Come, Lord Jesus. I'm scared, but I'm ready.
Thanks ~ we’ll begin praying these tonight.
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O WISDOM Symbols: All-Seeing Eye and the Lamp Come, and teach us the way of prudence. 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 Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. The "all-seeing eye" represents the all-knowing and ever-present God. During the late Renaissance, the eye was pictured in a triangle with rays of light to represent the infinite holiness of the Trinity. The lamp is a symbol of wisdom taken from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Recommended Readings: Proverbs 8:1-12 |
Am looking forward to midnight mass from the Vatican on Christmas Eve. Puts a lovely touch on the holiday celebrations.
O LORD AND RULER Symbols: The Tablets Come and redeem us with outstretched arm. 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 arm. O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. The tablets of stone are a picture of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They may be used to represent the whole of God's law, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, the Torah), or the entire Old Testament. Recommended Readings: Micheas 5:1-9 |
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