17 - 23 December

The Great O Antiphons

O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the
Most High, come and teach us the way of
prudence.

O Adonai, leader of the house of Israel, who
gavest the law in Sinai, come and deliver
us with an outstretched arm.

O Root of Jesse, whom the gentiles seek, come
and deliver us, and tarry not.

O Key of David, come and bring the prisoner out
of the prison-house.

O Dayspring, Brightness of Light Everlasting and
Sun of Righteousness, come and enlighten
him that sitteth in darkness and the
shadow of death.

O King of Nations, their desire and cornerstone,
come and save mankind, whom thou
formedst of clay.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire
of all nations and their Salvation, come
and save us, O Lord our God.

(abbreviated from seventh-eighth century monastic vespers)

The O Antiphons were composed by the eighth century. The first written witness documented: Anglosaxon, Cynewulf, eighth c. These are daily antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers and are used in shortened form as Alleluia verses before the Gospel of the day. The O Antiphons are popularized in the hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."