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Friday, December 17, 2021

THE "O ANTIPHONS" FOR THE LAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS



The O Antiphons For Advent

For the Current Day Hymn—O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

A Beautiful Instrumental: Piano and Cello [Click Here]
A Beautiful Choral Singing [Click Here]
A Beautiful a cappella Rendition [Click Here]




TRADITIONAL LATIN AND ENGLISH

I. December 18


O Sapientia,
quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom,
your words uttered in the beginning
generated a world of beauty and goodness,
giving purpose and value to each creature;
instruct us in the way of prudence,
that we may nurture the world with justice and joy.
Help us to resist evil and to obey you,
so that we may walk in your ways and
that the beauty of your creation may flourish—
through the one whom we know as the Wisdom of the ages,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [WS2]


II. December 19


O Deus, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O God Most High, 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.

O God of might,
ruler of the universe and ruler of the house of Israel,
your mighty acts have rescued remnants of your people
from the midst of slavery, exile, war, and holocaust:
raise your scepter over us, that your saving rule
may be extended to all people in all places—
for the sake of him who we know as Redeemer of all,
even Jesus, the Christ. Amen. [WS2]


III. December 20


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

O Root of Jesse,
standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

O Root of Jesse,
you reach deep down into the darkness of the earth
and stir the world’s longings for deliverance and hope:
raise up within our own lives
a spirit of courage and strength, of wisdom and insight,
that we may do your work for the coming of your kingdom—
through the merits of the one we know as the beginning of the ages,
even Christ, our Redeeming. Amen. [WS2]


IV. December 21


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.

O Key of David and sceptre 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.

O Key of David and throne of glory,
you open the way to the future and no one closes;
you close the way to the past and no one opens.
Release us and all your people from the oppressions of the past,
that we may face the future with boldness and purpose—
through the merits of the Son of David, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. [WS2]


V. December 22


O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Rising Dawn,
you shine with warm brightness and clean freshness,
chasing the fearsome shadows of the night away:
enlighten the lives of your people with visions of shalom
until you bring all things into the harmony of your kingdom—
for the sake of him we call the light of the world, Christ, our Redeemer. Amen. [WS2]


VI. December 23


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

O Sovereign of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

O Ruler of all nations,
Sovereign of all time and space,
you hold humanity together.
Train our eyes to discern your righteous rule,
so that, standing firmly in hope
before the powers of this world,
we may heed your voice
and be constant in your truth;
through Jesus of Nazareth, David’s heir. Amen. [WS2]


VII. December 24



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

O Emmanuel, our Sovereign and our Lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O  God.

O Immanuel,
child of promise and sign of hope,
you come from a distance far beyond our reach,
yet are closer to us than we are to ourselves:
remain with us in our own days of expectation,
that we may give birth to what is just, true, beautiful, and good—
through the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, in the blessed Trinity,
who abides with us, one God now and forever. Amen. [WS2]