The Advent of the Word
Reflecting on the advent(s) of Christ in a year of interruptions
O Emmanuel
December 23 ANTIPHON O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of All Nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God. READING From Isaiah chapters 7 and 33: Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name ..
O King of Nations
December 22 ANTIPHON O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save mankind whom You formed out of clay. READING From Isaiah chapter 28, Psalm 118, and Ephesians chapter 2: Therefore, thus says the Lord God: See, I am laying a stone in ..
O Dayspring
December 21 ANTIPHON O Dayspring, Splendor of Light Everlasting and Sun of Righteousness: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. READING From Isaiah chapter 9, Malachi chapter 4, and 2 Peter chapter 1: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those ..
O Key of David
December 20 ANTIPHON O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death. READING From Psalm 107 and Isaiah chapters 22 and 42: They dwelt ..
O Root of Jesse
December 19 ANTIPHON O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come to deliver us, and delay not. READING From Isaiah chapters 11, 52, and 53: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and ..
O Adonai
December 18 ANTIPHON O Adonai, and Ruler of the House of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come and with an outstretched arm redeem us. READING From Exodus chapter 6 and Micah chapter 5: Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, ..
O Wisdom
Today in chapel we had a service that prayed and sung the O Antiphons of Advent. Traditionally, the O Antiphons were sung consecutively beginning on December 17 and ending on December 23. For our students, we experienced them all at once, but for you, our readers, we offer a version of them one at a time. ..
O Radix Iesse : O Root of Jesse
December 19 READER O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come to deliver us, and delay not. PREACHER Is there anyone here who feels that she simply has no life left in her? Is there anyone ..