What are the "O Antiphons"?

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[Salvation]

FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

What are the "O Antiphons"?

The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. 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.

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. Lets now look at each antiphon with just a sample of Isaiahs related prophecies :

O Sapientia: 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. Isaiah had prophesied, The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. (11:2-3), and Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom. (28:29).

O Adonai: O sacred Lord of ancient 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. Isaiah had prophesied, But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the lands afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. (11:4-5); and Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us. (33:22).

O Radix Jesse: O Flower of Jesses stem, 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. Isaiah had prophesied, But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. (11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious. (11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in Davids city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).

O Clavis 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. Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open. (22:22), and His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from Davids throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. (9:6).

O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Isaiah had prophesied, The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown. (9:1).

O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Isaiah had prophesied, For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (9:5), and He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. (2:4) .

O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. Isaiah had prophesied, The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.

(7:14). 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.

[Salvation]

Different titles of Christ.

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=958

[ConorMacNessa]

O Radix Jesse
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

"O Radix Jesse, Qui stas in signum populorum, Super quem continebunt reges os suum, Quem gentes deprecabuntur: Veni ad liberandum nos, Jam noli tardare."

"O Root of Jesse, Who stands as a sign for the people, Before whom rulers are silent While the nations pray: Come to save us And tarry not."

[ConorMacNessa]

O Clavis David
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

" O Clavis David, Et sceptrum domus Israël, Qui aperis, et nemo claudit, Claudis, et nemo aperuit: Veni, et educ vinctum De domo carceris, Sedentem in tenebris, Et umbra mortis."

" O Key of David, And scepter of the house of Israel, You open, and no one shuts, You shut, and no one opens: Come, and lead the prisoner From jail. Seated in darkness And in the shadow of death."

[Salvation]

You beat me today. I was at a family dinner.

[Salvation]

O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

[ConorMacNessa]

We sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" today at Mass - verses 5, 6 & 7. I have sung that hymn every Advent since about 1956. It never grows old.

[Salvation]

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadow put to flight.

[Salvation]

I like Radiant Dawn better.

O Oriens: O Radiant Dawn

[ConorMacNessa]

O Oriens
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

"O Oriens, Splendor lucis aeternae, Et sol justitiae: Veni, et illumina Sedentes in tenebris, Et umbra mortis."

"O Dawn, Splendor of eternal light, And sun of justice, Come, and shine on those, Seated in darkness, And in the shadow of death."

[Salvation]

Those Gregorian chants are beautiful. Thank you so much.

[Salvation]

O Come Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all humankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be thyself Our Prince of Peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel!
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

[Salvation]

I prefer:

O Rex Gentium: O King of all the nations

[ConorMacNessa]

O Rex Gentium
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

"O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti."

"O King of the Nations, and the one they desired, keystone, who makes both peoples one, come and save mankind, whom you shaped from the mud.

[ConorMacNessa]

O Emmanuel
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

"O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, Expectatio gentium, Et Salvator earum: Veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster."

"O Emmanuel, King and lawgiver Awaited by the gentiles, And their Savior: Come to save us, Lord our God."

[Salvation]

And from the song:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice, Emmanuel,
Shall com to thee, O Israel.

[Salvation]

Thank you for all your contributions to this thread.

Have a blessed Christmas.

[ConorMacNessa]

A Blessed Christmas to you and yours, Salvation! Thank you for reminding me of these Antiphons - it has been a long while since I have heard them --- in Church.

Just sad - I remember so many Sundays at St. Mary's in Rockville, Maryland, in the late 50's when we would have Benediction.

"If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape
and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy."

[Coleus]

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[ConorMacNessa]

Using a different server now. I’ll post an updated graphic this Advent.

[ConorMacNessa]

O Sapientia
Gregorian Chant
CantArte Regensburg & Hubert Velten
(Click)

"O SAPIENTIA, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, Attingens a fine usque ad finem, Fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae."

"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."