O Antiphons - Introduction

During the final week of Advent, one Christian tradition across many denominations revolves around the "O" Antiphons.  The antiphons are a collage of Old Testament types of Christ.  Their predominant theme is messianic,  stressing the hope of the Savior's coming.  The sequence progresses historically, from the beginning, before creation, to the very gates of Bethlehem.  Each of the seven antiphons follows the same pattern, resembling a traditional liturgical prayer.  Each O Antiphon begins with an invocation of the expected Messiah, followed by praise of him under one of his particular titles.  Each ends with a petition for God's people, relevant to the title by which he is addressed, and the cry for him to "Come".

 
The seven titles attributed to Jesus in the antiphons are Wisdom (Sapientia in Latin), Ruler of the House of Israel (Adonai), Root of Jesse (Radix), Key of David (Clavis), Rising Dawn (Oriens), King of the Gentiles (Rex). and Emmanuel.  In Latin the initials of the titles make an acrostic which, when read backwards. means: "Tomorrow I will be there" ("Ero cras"). 

Today the O Antiphons are most familiar to us in the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel".  Each verse of the hymn parallels one of the antiphons.  During this last week of Advent, in addition to our regular devotional, we'll look at the "O" Antiphon for each day as well as the appropriate verse from "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."