The Great "O" antiphons; Advent's final countdown - Rector's Rambling for December 13, 2015

Next week we are singing the classic Advent hymn – O come, O come, Emmanuel, number 2 in the 1940 Hymnal.  It sums up the hopes of the people of Israel that God would send a Saviour.  Each verse of the hymn is a paraphrase of a Latin antiphon to be said at Daily Evening Prayer before the first canticle, The Magnificat.  It is yet another wonderful way the Church is counting down to the Feast of the Nativity (Christmas).

Why am I writing about this hymn now when we are singing it next week?  Because the days assigned for each verse begin this Wednesday, December 16.

Listed below are the antiphons for the proper days, with the verses in the hymn to which they correspond:

12/16 – O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. (v.2)

12/17 – O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearest in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the law in Sinai: come and redeem us with an outstreached arm. (v.3)

12/18 – O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shout their mouths, unto whom the Gentile shall seek: come and deliver us, and tarry not. (v.4)

12/19 – O Key of David, and Scepter of the House of Israel; that openest and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth: Come, and bring the prisoners out of the prison-house, them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (v.5)

12/20 – O Day-spring, Brightness of the Light everlasting, and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. (v. 6)

12/21 – O King of Nations, and their Desire; the Cornerstone, who makest both one: Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay. (v. 7)

12/22 – O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, and Desire of all nations and their Salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God. (v.1)

12/23 – O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any seen like thee, nor shall there be after.  Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me?  The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery