An Advent Blog Hop - O Anthiphons

Today I joining Bethanne's Advent Blog Hop. Be sure to check out all the great bloggers who are participating.

Today is seven before Christmas, one week. This season of waiting is almost over.

Yesterday the O Antiphons started. I love the O Antiphons, besides the fact that they act as a count down to the end of Advent and therefore the start of Christmas, they provide a way to contemplate Jesus under seven unique titles.

O Wisdom, O Adonai (Lord), O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring (Light), O King, O Emmanuel.

Each day's prayer ends with a plea for the Messiah to come. To end our wait. To be here with us.

From the 16th to the 23rd the O Anthiphons are the Alleluia verse at Mass. They are the antiphon before and after the Magnificat in the evening prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. They can also bee prayed on their own.

O Sapientia (December 17) O Wisdom (Eccl 24: 5), you came forth from the mouth of the Most High (Sir 24: 30), and reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly (Wis 8: 1). Come, and teach us the way of prudence (Isa 40: 14).

O Adonai (December 18) O Adonai or O Lord and Ruler (Exod 6: 13) and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2: 6), you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3: 2), and on Mount Sinai gave him your Law (Exod 20). Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us (Jer 32: 21).

O Radix Jesse (December 19) O Root of Jesse, you stand for the ensign of all mankind (Isa 11: 10); before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52: 15). Come, save us, and do not delay (Hab 2: 3).

O Clavis David (December 20) O Key of David (Apoc 3: 7) Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isa 22: 22). Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10).

O Oriens (December 21) O Rising Dawn (Zac 6: 12), Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3: 4) and Sun of Justice (Mal 3: 20); Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10; Lk 1: 78).

O Rex Gentium (December 22) O King of the Gentiles (Hag 2: 8), Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one (Eph 2: 20). Come, and save poor man whom you fashion out of clay (Gen 2: 7).

O Emmanuel (December 23) O Emmanuel (Isa 7: 14; 8: 8), our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Ezek 21: 32), the Expected of the nations and their Savior (Isa 33: 22): Come, and save us, O Lord our God.

The first letters of the Latin words read backwards are ERO CRAS meaning Tomorrow I will come.