Monday, December 04, 2006

The Great O Antiphons

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17,
and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If
a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a
commemoration of Advent.

These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of theseversified antiphons.They can be found in English
and in verse form at the Lexrandi web site.

December 17
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

December 18
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae furi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in bracchio extendo.

December 19
O radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

December 20
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.

December 21
O Oriens, speldor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et in umbra mortis.

December 22
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

December 23
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

1 comment:

William Weedon said...

Curiously, the Magdeburg Cathedral book retained a few extra O Antiphons, included two addressed to the Virgin! They also contain the odd note that one is to use all the O Antiphons, working backwards, but skipping Sundays and St. Thomas Day. Go figure!!!