Focus the Microscope of Christmas, The O Antiphons

Today begins the last prep for Christmas, the seven O Antiphons. They bring the holy day into focus in a big way. O Come Emmanuel is the hymn of the O Antiphons. Today is also the first of the December ember days. So we have abundant opportunities to make this last week before Christmas a time of magnifying our preparation. Even if we've had an Advent with too much emphasis on the secular preparations with decorating and baking, we can spend this last week decorating our hearts and turning up the heat of love for the little King.

O King of All Nations, O Emmanuel, God with us: Let us pray for the Social Reign of Jesus Christ!

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:

come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:

come to save us, Lord our God!

“The dethronement of God on earth is a crime, to which we must never become resigned. Let us never cease to protest against it.” – Cardinal Pie [1815-1880]

Wish I could make a trip to the Bay Area of California to visit this extravaganza of light and faith!

Deacon’s Award-Winning Christmas Display Shares the Light of Christ Far and Wide

This seems appropriate for the O Antiphon today that begins "O Radiant Dawn." Enjoy!

O Key of David...Free the Prisoners!

 

In many ways we are all prisoners in this valley of tears. Only death can free us.

O Root of Jesse's Stem: A Heartwarming Story for Christmas from Fr. Gordon MacRae

 

Many people this time of year make the first ornaments to adorn the tree symbols of Jesus' family. Mary came from the house of David, as did the spouse chosen for her, St. Joseph, so King David is a prominent feature. Even before Jesus' birth, God emphasized the importance of family by calling Joseph to his ancestral village, Bethlehem. Symbols of the patriarchs beginning with Adam often go on the Christmas tree first. "O Root of Jesse's Stem," come and deliver us! 

Come and Redeem Us, Lord!

O Adonai!

The O Antiiphons Begin. Don't Miss the Richness of these Final Days of Advent!

 

Are You Praying the Great O Antiphons?

This time of year I always recall a wonderful homily given by a former pastor of ours, Fr. Richard Ley, anticipating the O Antiphons. These are the antiphons that begin on December 17th and continue through Christmas Eve. Fr. Ley, who is now retired and living in Florida, has a gift for preaching and it was clearly demonstrated as he described each of the antiphons that illustrate one of Christ's titles:

Christmas is Nigh: We're Singing the O Antiphons!

Nothing announces the nearness of the Messiah like the O Antiphons. Part of the Church's Liturgy of the Hours for hundreds of years, these beautiful psalms announce the imminence of our salvation from sin and death. Today, December 17, we sing, "O Wisdom." And what is the beginning of wisdom? Fear of the Lord, not in the sense of quivering terror, but recognizing the awe inspiring "fear" of God whose very name causes us to fall on our knees.

 "Who is Like Unto God?" Michael the archangel shouts as he thrusts Satan and his minions out of heaven into the everlasting fires. This first antiphon reminds me of the increasing light overcoming the darkness of sin and death.

Note some of the antiphons in the version of O Come Emmanuel below. Here are the seven O Antiphons.

• O Come, O Wisdom
• O Come, O Lord
• O Come, O Root of Jesse
• O Come, O Key of David
• O Come, O Rising Dawn
• O Come, O King of Gentiles
• O Come, O Emmanuel

Read more here.

O Come Emmanuel: Join the Church in praying the O Antiphons

From an article at Catholic Culture:

As Elsa Chaney in Twelve Days of Christmas states, "[The O antiphons] seem to sum up all our Advent longing as they paint in vivid terms the wretched condition of mankind and his need of a Savior.'"

The "O" Antiphons are the verses for the ancient hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The first letter of the Messianic titles: Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia—spell out Latin words ERO CRAS, meaning, "Tomorrow, I will come."

The antiphons are part of the evening prayer of the Divine Office, the antiphon before and after the Magnificat. They are also the alleluia verse before the Gospel at Mass.

In these last few days before Christmas, join the Church in praying the O Antiphons.