How to Pray the Greater "O Antiphons"

Since the 8th Century,

the Catholic Church has prepared for the Feast of Christmas

by singing the great "O Antiphons" during Vespers each evening

from December 17th through 23rd.

Through ancient Biblical imagery,

we proclaim "Come!" as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies,

and to keep at the forefront of our mind the Second Coming of Christ.

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DECEMBER 17TH

O SAPIENTIA

+O WISDOM+

LATIN:

O Sapientia,

quæ ex ore Altissimi prodisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia :

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

ENGLISH:

O Wisdom,

which camest out of the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to end,

and ordering all things mightily and sweetly:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

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DECEMBER 18TH

O ADONAI

+O LORD+

LATIN:

O Adonai,

et Dux domus Israel,

qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,

et ei in Sina legem dedisti:

veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

ENGLISH:

O Adonai,

and leader of the House of Israel,

who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush,

and didst give unto him the law on Sinai:

Come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

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DECEMBER 19TH

O RADIX JESSE

+O ROOT OF JESSE+

LATIN:

O Radix Iesse,

qui stas in signum populorum,

super quem continebunt reges os suum,

quem gentes deprecabuntur :

veni ad liberandum nos,

iam noli tardare.

ENGLISH:

O Root of Jesse,

which standest for an ensign of the people,

before whom kings shall keep silence,

whom the gentiles shall beseech:

Come and deliver us,

and tarry not.

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DECEMBER 20TH

O CLAVIS DAVID

+O KEY OF DAVID+

LATIN:

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.

ENGLISH:

O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel,

that openest and no man openeth:

come and bring the prisoner forth from the prison-house, and him that sitteth in darkness and the shadow of death.

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DECEMBER 21ST

O ORIENS

+O DAYSPRING+

LATIN:

O Oriens,

splendor lucis æternæ,

et sol iustitiæ :

veni,

et illumina sedentes in tenebris

et umbra mortis.

ENGLISH:

O Day-spring,

Brightness of light eternal,

and sun of justice,

Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death. 

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DECEMBER 22ND

O REX GENTIUM

+O KING OF THE NATIONS+

LATIN:

O Rex gentium,

et desideratus earum,

lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum :

veni, et salva hominem,

quem de limo formasti.

ENGLISH:

O King of the Gentiles

and the desire thereof,

Thou cornerstone that makest both one,

Come and deliver mankind,

Whom Thou didst form out of clay.  

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DECEMBER 23RD

O EMMANUEL

+O WITH US IS GOD+

LATIN:

O Emmanuel,

Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio gentium,

et Salvator earum : veni ad salvandum nos,

Domine, Deus noster.

ENGLISH:

O Emmanuel,

our King and our Lawgiver,

the desire of the nations and their Savior thereof,

Come to save us,

O Lord our God.

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WE PRAY THAT THIS "O ANTIPHON" DEVOTION BRINGS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CLOSER AND HELPS YOU FOCUS ON THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

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