The O Antiphons (December 17–23)
From December 17 to 23, in the last week of Advent, the Church sings seven Great Antiphons before and after the Magnificat at Vespers. Each one hails the coming Christ by a title drawn from the prophets, Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of the Nations, and Emmanuel, and each ends with the same urgent plea: Come! Read backward, the first letters of the Latin titles (Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, Emmanuel) spell ERO CRAS, "Tomorrow I will be there."
Pray the antiphon of the day each evening, on its own, with the Magnificat, or at the Advent wreath. The well-loved hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a paraphrase of these antiphons, so singing a verse of it is a lovely way to close. Families sometimes make a Jesse Tree and hang a symbol for each title: a book for Wisdom, a flame for the burning bush, a key, a rising sun, a crown, and a cornerstone.
The Prayers
December 17: O Wisdom (O Sapientia)
O Wisdom, that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come to teach us the way of prudence! 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
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai: come to redeem us with an outstretched arm! 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.
December 19: O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse)
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, make no tarrying! O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
December 20: O Key of David (O Clavis David)
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth: come to bring out the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death! 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 Dayspring (O Oriens)
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of Justice: come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death! O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.
December 22: O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium)
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof, O Corner-stone, that makest of two one: come to save man, whom Thou hast made of the dust of the earth! O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
December 23: O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof: come to save us, O Lord our God! O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.
The antiphons echo the prophets who foretold the Messiah and the saints who welcomed Him: St. John the Baptist, the last of the prophets; St. Elizabeth, who greeted Mary at the Visitation; and the Blessed Virgin Mary, who sang the Magnificat.
See also: Christmas Novena (December 16–24), Advent Wreath Prayers, St. Andrew Christmas Novena, Advent Prayer (Traditional), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Prayers, Prayer to the Immaculate Conception, and Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Sources: English and Latin from A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity, prepared by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore (New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1888), public domain, with spelling lightly modernized.
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