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In these shortest days of the year, as evening falls early and darkness seems to reign, the Church gives us her most exquisite prayers of longing and hope. From December 17 through December 23, during the final days of our Advent journey, we enter into the time of the O Antiphons - seven ancient prayers that express the deepest yearnings of God's people. While many of us know these prayers through the beloved hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," their richness invites us to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ's coming.
A Treasury of Sacred Longing
When the monks of the early Church gathered for evening prayer (Vespers), they would frame Mary's Magnificat with these antiphons - short verses sung before and after her great song of praise. Each antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Christ with a different biblical title drawn primarily from the prophet Isaiah. Like a carefully crafted jewel turned slowly in the light, each title reveals a different facet of who Christ is and what His coming means for us.
These prayers, dating back at least to the eighth century, do more than just count down the days until Christmas. They tell the story of salvation history and reveal how thoroughly Christ fulfills the promises of God. When we pray them, we join countless generations who have lifted these same words in hope and expectation.
The Seven Antiphons: A Journey Through Promise to Fulfillment
December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
"O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence."
This first antiphon speaks to Christ as the Wisdom of God, through whom all things were made. In a world often confused and searching for meaning, we begin by asking Divine Wisdom to be our teacher. The image of wisdom "ordering all things" reminds us that Christ is not just our personal savior but the one who brings order to the entire universe.
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
"O Lord, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm."
Here we remember God's revelation to Moses and His mighty acts of deliverance. The antiphon reminds us that the baby we await in Bethlehem is the same Lord who led Israel through the desert. We who need redemption call upon the One whose very name is too holy to pronounce.
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
"O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before whom kings will shut their mouths, to whom the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us, and delay no longer."
This antiphon draws on Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah's lineage. Jesse was King David's father, and Jesus is the promised shoot who springs from this ancient root. In calling upon the Root of Jesse, we remember God's faithfulness to His promises through generations.
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
"O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death."
This powerful image of Christ as the key speaks to His authority to open what is closed and close what should not be opened. The Key of David reminds us of God's promise to David of an eternal kingdom, fulfilled in Christ who holds the key to death and Hades.
December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
"O Dayspring, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death."
On the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, we pray to Christ as the Dawn from on high. This antiphon connects the natural light of the sun with Christ, the Light of the World, who dispels the darkness of sin and death.
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
"O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay."
This title recognizes Christ's universal kingship. He is not just the Jewish Messiah but the desire of all nations, the one who breaks down the walls that divide peoples and makes humanity one again, as we were first fashioned from the same clay.
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God With Us)
"O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God."
The final antiphon brings us full circle to Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin who would bear a son called Emmanuel - God with us. This name captures the heart of the Incarnation: in Jesus, God truly becomes "with us" in the most intimate way possible.
Hidden Wisdom in Ancient Words
Within these antiphons lies a beautiful secret that generations of monks and scholars have treasured. When we take the first letter of each Latin title, reading backwards from December 23 to 17 (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia), they form an acrostic: ERO CRAS, meaning "Tomorrow, I will come." Even in their structure, these prayers contain Christ's response to our longing - a promise of His imminent arrival.
Praying with the Church
The O Antiphons remain an integral part of the Church's evening prayer, but their wisdom isn't confined to formal liturgy. During these seven days, they can shape our personal and family prayer in powerful ways:
In Personal Prayer
- Set aside time each evening, perhaps after dinner or at sunset, to pray the day's antiphon
- Read the related Scripture passages, especially from Isaiah
- Journal about how that particular title of Christ speaks to your current needs and hopes
- Use the antiphon as a "breath prayer" throughout the day
In Family Prayer
- Light your Advent wreath and read the day's antiphon together
- Create a simple craft or symbol representing each title
- Sing a verse of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" corresponding to that day's antiphon
- Share how each title of Christ might help with different life situations
In Parish Life
During these days, our parish's liturgy echoes with these ancient prayers. The daily Mass readings align with the themes of each antiphon, and our music draws heavily from these texts. Notice how these prayers appear in our worship, creating a harmony between personal, family, and communal prayer.
Living the O Antiphons Today
Each antiphon speaks to a different aspect of our need for Christ:
- When we feel lost, we call to Christ our Wisdom
- When we feel enslaved by sin or habit, we cry out to our Lord and Leader
- When we feel cut off from our roots, we turn to the Root of Jesse
- When we feel trapped, we seek the Key of David
- When we walk in darkness, we look for the Dayspring
- When we see division, we pray to the King of Nations
- When we feel alone, we remember Emmanuel - God with us
The Final Days of Waiting
As we enter this most intense period of Advent preparation, the O Antiphons teach us how to wait in hope. They show us that our longings - for wisdom, for freedom, for light, for unity, for God's presence - are themselves sacred. Just as Israel's yearning for the Messiah was fulfilled in ways they could never have imagined, our prayers of longing open us to God's often surprising answers.
The O Antiphons remind us that we're not the first to wait in darkness for the light of Christ, nor are we the first to need God's wisdom, freedom, and presence. As these ancient prayers echo through our churches and homes during these final days before Christmas, they unite us with all who have waited in hope for the coming of the Lord.
Let these venerable prayers shape your final days of Advent. In their poetry and power, they teach us to name our deepest desires before God and to trust, as generations before us have trusted, that Christ will come to fulfill them. Tomorrow, He will come. ERO CRAS.