Our journey to Bethlehem intensifies as we get closer to witnessing the birth of the Christ Child.
The Infant lying at the crib of Bethlehem is the eternal Son of God made man, and His name is “Princeps Pacis,” Prince of Peace. Prince and founder of peace, such is the character of the Savior and Redeemer of the whole human race. His sublime mission is to establish peace between each man and God, between men themselves and between peoples. This mission, however, and this desire for peace are not born of timidity and weakness, which can meet evil and the wicked only with resignation and patience. Everything in the frailty of the Babe of Bethlehem is hidden majesty and contained force, which only love restrains, in order to make the hearts of men capable of begetting and nurturing peace, and give them the strength to overcome and scatter all the forces that might compromise its life. ~Pius XII, radio message to the world, December 24 1951.
The liturgy takes us deeper into our spiritual journey with its rich signs of awe and petitions.
We continue with our Christmas Novena and we also begin the O Antiphons today (Dec. 17).
In the Roman Catholic breviary, Evening Prayer, also known as Vespers, always includes the great prayer of Mary known as the Magnificat. Each day, the Magnificat is preceded by a short verse or “antiphon” that links the prayer to the feast of the day or the season of the year. In the last seven days of Advent (from 17th to 24th December), the antiphons before the Magnificat are very special. Each begins with the exclamation “O” and ends with a plea for the Messiah to come.
The “O Antiphons” are said from December 17 to 23. These antiphons to Magnificat carry various divine titles for the Child to be born:
- O Wisdom, O Adonai [Hebrew for Lord]
- O root of Jesse
- O key of David
- O Orient
- O King
- O Emmanuel
Here are their original forms of Latin: Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, Emmanuel.
The initial letters of these titles give us “Ero cras—I shall be here tomorrow!” This is the exact case as the seven antiphons are completed on December 23, about 24 hours away from Midnight Mass.
The church is filled with great anticipation of what is to come. We, too, should carry the same eagerness as we draw closer to Bethlehem.
MORE REFLECTIONS & Resources:
- O Antiphons & Ember Day Collects – SSPX
- Printable O Antiphons Fish Eaters
- O Antiphons Prayer Companion – Family Feast and Feria
DECEMBER 17: The Commencement of the Great Antiphons
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to 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.
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
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.
DECEMBER 18: The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
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 Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
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 Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of justice, come to give light to them that sit 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.
DECEMBER 21: St. Thomas, Apostle
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one,
come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
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