Advent 2015 - O Emmanuel - December 23rd

O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver, desired of the nations and their salvation, come and save us, Lord our God.

 

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

“O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Saviour of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”(7:14). Remember “Emmanuel” means “God is with us.” 

Jesus Emmanuel has already come. 
It is not a matter now of Christ’s 
being where we are; it is a matter of 
our being in the consciousness of 
where Christ is in life and where He 
is not as well. Where is Christ for 
you? Is there a place in your life that 
you know down deep is not in the 
spirit of Christ at all?

— Joan D. Chittister, OSB



With this last antiphon our expectation finds joy now in the certainty of fulfilment.  We call Jesus by one of the most personal and intimate of his titles, Emmanuel, God-with-us.  We recall that in his birth from the Virgin Mary God takes on our very flesh and human nature: God coming nearer to us than we could have ever imagined!  Yet he is also to be exalted above us as our king, the lawgiver and judge, the one whom we honour and obey.  And he is our saviour, long-expected by all creation.  The final cry rises from us urgent in our need for daily salvation and forgiveness of our sins, and confident that our God will not withhold himself from us.   (c) 2000 Jeanne Kun

Reflections on the O Antiphon:

Wellspring reflections - O Immanuel 
Liturgy NZ - O Emmanuel
Blue Eyed Ennis - O Emmanuel

 

Advent 2015 - O Rex Gentium (O King of All Nations) - December 22nd

O King of the Nations for whom they long, the corner-stone who makes of both one, come and deliver man whom you made from clay.

 

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

O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.”

Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counsellor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plough shares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4)

The earlier antiphons have already alluded to the Messiah coming not only to Israel  but to convert the gentile nations and redeem them for his own. Now this sixth antiphon clearly addresses the saviour as the king of the gentiles (Jer.10:7) and the Desired One of the nations.  The Messiah is the cornerstone on whom our spiritual foundations are laid, but on whom unbelievers stumble (Matt. 21:42).  This cornerstone unites and binds Jew and gentile into one, making peace between them.  The plea is that God save all humanity, all his creation that he formed from the dust of the earth (Gen.2:7).  We yearn for him once again to breathe the breath of his new life into us.
Reflections on the O Antiphon:

Wellspring Reflections - O King
University of Notre Dame - Kings of Our Heart 
Liturgy NZ - Reflections on the O Antiphons
Blue Eyed Ennis - O King of Nations

Advent 2015 - O Orien (O Daystar) - December 21st

 

O Morning Star, splendour of eternal light and sun of justice, come and illumine those seated in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

 

Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone".

Malachi 3:20: "For you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays".  

2 Peter 1:19: "Keep your attention closely fixed on it, as you would on a lamp shining in a dark place, until the first streaks of dawn appear and the morning star rises in your heart".

This title is variously translated "morning star", "Dayspring", "rising sun", "radiant dawn", "orient".  All beautifully express the idea of light shattering the darkness of night, of sin and death, of sickness and despair, with its brightness bringing healing and warmth to cold hearts.  Jesus is indeed the true light, the radiance of his Father's splendor. The church prays this petition daily in the Benedictus, joining in the words of Zechariah: "He, the Dayspring, shall visit us in his mercy to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death"  (Luke 1:78-79).

Reflections on this O Antiphon:

Wellsprings Reflections - O Orien
University of Notre Dame - O Orien
Blue Eyed Ennis - O Orien
Liturgy NZ - O Orien
SS102fm post in 2014 - O Orien

Advent 2015 - O Clavis David (O Key of David) - December 20th

 

O Key of David and Sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens.  Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who 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.

 

Isaiah had prophesied, "I will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6)




Isaiah 22:22: "I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open.  Revelation 3:7: "To the presiding spirit of the church in Philadelphia write this: 'The holy One, the true, who wields David's key, who opens and no one can close, who closes and  no one can open'".  Isaiah 42:6-7: "I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon those who live in darkness".  The key and sceptre are traditional symbols of kingly power and authority. Christ, the anointed one, is the heir of David and possessor of the kingdom. Jesus himself also made use of this symbol, showing the prophetic relationship of the earthly kingdom of David to the kingdom of God.  All power and authority was given to him after the resurrection, and he entrusted this power to "bind and to loose" to Peter and the ministers of his church.
In the closing petition we look to Jesus to unlock the fetters of sin that  keep us tightly chained.  It is he who frees us from our captivity.  We recall the deliverance proclaimed by the psalmist of old: "they dwelt in darkness and gloom, bondsmen in want and in chains,...and he led them forth from darkness and gloom and broke their bonds asunder" (Psalm 107: 10, 14).

Reflections on this O Antiphon:

iBenedictines - O Clavis David
Blue Eyed Ennis - O Clavis David
Wellspring Reflections - O Key of David 
Concordia Theology - O Clavis David
University of Notre Dame - He stands and knocks: The Key of David



Advent 2015 - O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) - December 19th

O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the peoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse.  Come, save us, and do not delay.

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

 

 

 

Isaiah 52:13, 15; 53:2: "See, my servant shall prosper...So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless. ...He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot".

 

Isaiah prophesied a restoration of David's throne - a new branch budding out of the old root. Christ is the root of Jesse in a two-fold sense: he is the descendant of David, who was the youngest son of Jesse, and he inherited the royal throne.  The angel foretold to Mary, "The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.  He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end" (Luke 1:32-33).

Our hearts more and more urgently cry out for God's reign to extend over all humanity: "Come, save us, and do not delay".

Reflections on todays O Antiphon:

• Chantblog - O Radix Jesse
• Blue Eyed Ennis - O Root of Jesse
• Wellsprings reflection - O Root of Jesse
• Liturgy NZ - O Root of Jesse 

Advent 2015 - O Adonai (O Lord) - December 18th

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the Law on Sinai, come to redeem us with outstretched arm

Exodus 3; Isaiah 11:4-5; Isaiah 33:22

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

Exodus 3:2: "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush.  As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed".

 

Exodus 6:6: "Therefore say to the Israelites: I am Yahweh.  I will free you from the enforced labor of the Egyptians and will deliver you from their slavery.  I will rescue you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment".

"Adonai" is Hebrew for "my Lord", and was substituted by devout Jews for the name "Yahweh", out of reverence.  With this second antiphon we progress from creation to the familiar story of God manifesting himself by name to Moses and giving his law to Israel as their way of life.  We are also reminded of the Israelites' deliverance from bondage under pharaoh - a foreshadowing of our own redemption from sin.  The image of God's arm outstretched in power to save his chosen people also brings to mind the later scene of Jesus with his arms outstretched for us on the cross.

Reflections on the O Antiphon:

• Wellsprings reflections - O Adonai
• Blue Eyed Ennis - O Lord 
• Chantblog - O Adonai 
• University of Notre Dame - O Adonai
• Thinking Anglicans - O Adonai 
• Liturgy NZ - O Antiphons

Advent 2015 - O Saipentia (O Wisdom) - December 17th

Figure of Wisdom
John Lafarge 1901
Source

O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ 

 

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly.  Come, and teach us the way of prudence. 

“O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.” 

 

Isaiah had prophesied, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” (11:2-3), and “Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.” (28:29).

 

 

 

This antiphon, like all the others to follow, is based on a composite of Scripture texts. Sirach 24:3:  "From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and like mist covered the earth". Wisdom 8:1: "She reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well".

 

Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia or Sapientia) is here personified, present with God at the beginning of creation.  This is a prefigurement of Jesus, the eternal Word of God, the "logos" John described in the opening of his gospel.  Wisdom is the foundation of fear of the Lord, of holiness, or right living: it is wisdom whom we bid to come and teach us prudence.  The cry "Come" will be repeated again and again, insistent and hope-filled.

If you would like to read or do lectio on scripture for the day:

• Wisdom 8:1
• Isaiah 11:2-3; 28:29
• Proverbs 8:1-36
• John 1:1-5 

Some reflections:

• Wellsprings reflection including scripture O Wisdom
• Liturgy NZ - Reflections on the O Antiphons
• University of Notre Dame - O Wisdom
• iBenedictines - O Sapientia
• Chantblog - O Sapientia
• Blue Eyed Ennis - O Wisdom
• Dating God - O Wisdom: recognising the Spirit of God in the World (2012) and  O Wisdom: Occupying God’s Foolishness (2011)
• Godzdogs - Holy Wisdom

Advent 2015 - The Great O Antiphons

Eventide approaches for December 17th, and the liturgical calendar moves into the final octave before Christmas. Beginning with the 17th of December, the liturgical tradition marks each day until Christmas Eve with an ancient and mysterious text, one of the so-called O-Antiphons. In the seven or eight days before Christmas Eve, at an appropriate church service (usually vespers, or evening prayer), the Great Advent Antiphons are traditionally said to introduce the saying (or singing) of the Magnificat. These prayers are variously known as the Great Advent Antiphons, the Great Os, the O Antiphons, the Solemn Antiphons, or the Oleries. They are familiar to many as the source for the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

In the English-speaking world, the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has popularized these O-Antiphons far beyond the confines of the church’s liturgy although being liturgically correct, the song is sung backwards in relation to the order of the O Antiphons. The O Antiphons are set to the tune of an ancient French processional hymn and liturgically speaking we should only sing this song between 17th and 23rd December, but it is a firm favourite of many people!

The O-Antiphons have been described as being amongst the most magnificent and ancient compositions of the Roman liturgy - "a unique work of art and a special ornament of the pre-Christmas liturgy, filled with the Spirit of the Word of God". They "create a poetry that fills the liturgy with its splendour", and their composer shows "a magnificent command of the Bible's wealth of motifs". The antiphons are, in fact, a collage of Old Testament types of Christ. Their predominant theme is messianic, stressing the hope of the Saviour's coming. Jesus is invoked by various titles, mainly taken from the prophet Isaiah. The sequence progresses historically, from the beginning, before creation, to the very gates of Bethlehem. For the seven days before Christmas, we recall in these prayers a quality of Christ that must be realized before the presence of Christ can consume the world. Since the Second Vatican Council, they have also been adapted (slightly reworded and rearranged) for the "Alleluia Verse" of the Mass of the day (the short scriptural text or paraphrase that immediately precedes the Gospel reading).

They are named “O” after their introductory exclamation of longing. The O-Antiphons give voice to the deepest longing of Advent, the coming of the Redeemer. Each daily antiphon takes a different image from the Hebrew Scriptures — Wisdom, Lord of Israel, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dawn, King of Nations, Emmanuel — to plead for the coming of Christ. Together, these antiphons move toward Christ’s birth, celebrated the day after the last of them has been chanted.

As we enter into the final octave of Advent, perhaps this may be an opportunity to sit with Mary for a few moments each day to contemplate the celebration that is to come. To sit with Mary and reflect on these ancient prayers of longing which still echo for us today.

As we head into the last 8 days before Christmas, why not make a few minutes of sacred space in your day to round out your preparations for the Holy and Festive Season of Christmas. The presents, decorations and parties are important to re-connect with family and friends, but lets not forget why we celebrate the holy-day.......








Further reading and reflection on the Great O's:

• Praising the Names of Jesus: The Antiphons of Advent by Jeanne Kun
• The O Antiphons - iBenedictines
• Chantblog - The Great O Antiphons
• Vultus Christi- Dom Mark Kirby from Silverstream Priory in Stanmullen in Co Meath has a series of homilies on the O Antiphons
• Blue Eyed Ennis - from Phil Ewing's old blog, a set of links and posts for the O'Antiphons
• Vatican Radio - in 2012, Vatican Radio did a short reflection on the O Antiphons
• Reflections on the O Antiphons from Liturgy NZ website
• Wellspring daily reflections on the O Antiphons
• For those looking to do a lectio divina on the O Antiphons the chart at Catholic Resources provides a comparative overview of the Latin versions and English translations of the texts used in the Liturgy of the Hours and the Lectionary for Mass, as well as the lyrics from the Advent hymn and some references to a few scriptural passages upon which these texts were based.