O Antiphons

23 December O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster. O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge the one whom the people await and their saviour. O come and save us Lord our God. God with us – Emmanuel – addresses the one who […]

22 December O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O king whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you made from clay. Jeremiah speaks of the king of all the nations […]

21 December O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O rising sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. The shortest day of the year has the […]

20 December O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one can close again; what you close no one can open.  O […]

19 December 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 stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us and do not […]

18 December O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us […]

17 December 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, you come forth from the mouth of the most high. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us […]

The O Antiphons contain images from the Old Testament that give us insight into the new life that we welcome at Christmas, Our Lord Jesus Christ. They are sung with solemnity at evening prayer in the pre-octave of Christmas from the 17-23 December. Read backwards each letter spells the Latin phrase ‘ero cras’ meaning tomorrow […]