O Antiphons (Octave before Christmas)

O Come....
O Come....
Emmanuel

The well known carol Veni, Veni Emmanuel is a synthesis of the great "O Antiphons" that are used for Vespers during the octave before Christmas (Dec. 17-23). These antiphons are of ancient origin, dating back to at least the ninth century.

Here is Veni Veni Emmanuel (O Come O Come Emmanuel) sung by Ensemble vocal Fribourg

Each “O Antiphon” highlights a title for the Messiah & a prophecy of Isaiah of his coming. Here is my album that has pictures and verses for each antiphon.

The titles, read from last to first, form an acrostic:

                        E   mmanuel,
                      R   ex Gentium,
                      O   riens,

                        C   lavis,
                      R   adix,
                      A   donai,
                      S    apientia =

The first letters
spell out "ERO CRAS" (Latin for “I'll be there.”)

Here are each of the antiphons & the dudes from Oxford singing the vesper for you:

December 17 - O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
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 Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

(Isaiah 11:2-3)“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.”

or (Isaiah 28:29) “Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.”

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December 18 - O Adonai (O Lord)
O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel,
you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and on Mount Sinai gave him your law.
Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us.

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.

(Isaiah 11:4-5)“But He shall judge the poor with justice,
and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” 

or (Isaiah 33:22) “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic;
yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king,
he it is who will save us.”

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December 19 - O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

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

(Isaiah 11:1) “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”
or
(Isaiah 11:10) "On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.”

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December 20 - O Clavis David (O Key of David)
O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

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 22:22) "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.”
or
(Isaiah 9:6) “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.”

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December 21 - O Oriens (O Rising Sun)
O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in 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 shown.”

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December 22 - O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:
come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

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

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

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December 23 -  O Emmanuel (O God who dwells with us)
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!

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

(Isaiah 7:14)  “The Lord himself will give you this sign:
the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.”

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