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The Greater Ferias {O Antiphons}

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The seven O Antiphons are known in the Liturgy as the Greater Ferias. These prayers come from the Breviary’s Vespers during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the “Golden Nights.”

Each Antiphon begins with “O” and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin “Ero Cras” which means “Tomorrow I come.” Those titles for Christ are:

Sapientia
Adonai
Radix Jesse
Clavis David
Oriens
Rex Gentium
Emmanuel

Ero Cras – Tomorrow I come

Last Week of Advent {Silence}

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Liturgical living for us has changed over the years as we have become dominated by boys. But the silence remains an important aspect that we seek to maintain (even if it only last for short intervals).

How are you observing this last week of Advent?

”O Mary, like an aqueduct, bring to our soul the waters of grace. When our soul has received a little more life, it will once again be able to bear fruit.” ~ Family Prayer Booklet for Advent

Preparations for Christmas

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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:

DECEMBER 17: The Commencement of the Great Antiphons

DECEMBER 17: O Sapientia!

O Sapientia Audio

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.

DECEMBER 18: O Adonai!

O Adonai Audio

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


DECEMBER 19: O Radix Jesse!

O Radix Jesse Audio

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.


DECEMBER 20: O Clavis David!

O Clavis David Audio

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.


DECEMBER 21: O Oriens!

O Oriens Audio

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


DECEMBER 22: O Rex Gentium!

O Rex Gentium Audio

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.


DECEMBER 23: O Emmanuel!

O Emmanuel Audio

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.

DECEMBER 24: Christmas Eve
Mass

Veni Veni Emmanuel Video with Latin and English Lyrics

O Antiphons {Reflections}

by Filed Under: 12 December Saints, Advent, O Antiphons Leave a Comment

The “O” Antiphons

Help prepare us for Christmas by meditating on the Antiphons for Vespers, popularized in the English hymn “O come, Emmanuel” each day from December 17th through 24th.

THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GREAT ANTIPHONS

The Liturgical Year, Dom Guéranger, O.S.B

The Church enters to-day on the seven days, which precede the Vigil of Christmas, and which are known in the Liturgy under the name of the Greater Ferias. The ordinary of the Advent Office becomes more solemn; the Antiphons of the Psalms, both for Lauds and the Hours of the day, are proper, and allude expressly to the great Coming. Every day, at Vespers, is sung a solemn Antiphon, which consists of a fervent prayer to the Messias, whom it addresses by one of the titles given him by the sacred Scriptures.

In the Roman Church, there are seven of these Antiphons, one for each of the Greater Ferias, They are commonly called the O’s of Advent, because they all begin with that interjection. In other Churches, during the Middle Ages, two more were added to these seven; one to our Blessed Lady, O Virgo Virginum; and the other to the Angel Gabriel, O Gabriel; or to St. Thomas the Apostle, whose feast comes during the Greater Ferias; it began O Thoma Didyme [It is more modern than the O Gabriel; but dating from the 13th century, it was almost universally used in its stead.] There were even Churches, where twelve Great Antiphons were sung; that is, besides the nine we have just mentioned, there was Rex Pacifice to our Lord, O mundi Domina to our Lady, and O Hierusalem to the city of the people of God.

The canonical Hour of Vespers has been selected as the most appropriate time for this solemn supplication to our Saviour, because, as the Church sings in one of her hymns, it was in the Evening of the world (vergente mundi vespere) that the Messias came amongst us. These Antiphons are sung at the Magnificat, to show us that the Saviour, whom we expect, is to come to us by Mary. They are sung twice; once before and once after the Canticle, as on Double Feasts, and this to show their great solemnity. In some Churches it was formerly the practice to sing them thrice; that is, before the Canticle, before the Gloria Patri, and after the Sicut erat. Lastly, these admirable Antiphons, which contain the whole pith of the Advent Liturgy, are accompanied by a chant replete with melodious gravity, and by ceremonies of great expressiveness, though, in these latter, there is no uniform practice followed. Let us enter into the spirit of the Church; let us reflect on the great Day which is coming; that thus we may take oar share in these the last and most earnest solicitations of the Church imploring her Spouse to come, and to which He at length yields.

MORE REFLECTIONS:

DECEMBER 17: The Commencement of the Great Antiphons
DECEMBER 17: O Sapientia!
DECEMBER 18: O Adonai!
DECEMBER 18: The Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
DECEMBER 19: O Radix Jesse!
DECEMBER 20: O Clavis David!
DECEMBER 21: St. Thomas, Apostle
DECEMBER 21: O Oriens!
DECEMBER 22: O Rex Gentium!
DECEMBER 23: O Emmanuel!

DECEMBER 24: Christmas Eve
Mass

Veni Veni Emmanuel Video with Latin and English Lyrics

O Antiphons ~ EROCRAS

by Filed Under: 12 December, Advent, O Antiphons 1 Comment

   repost from 2012

The seven “O Antiphons” (also called the “Greater Antiphons” or “Major Antiphons”) are prayers that come from the Breviary’s Vespers during the Octave before Christmas Eve, a time which is called the “Golden Nights.” Each Antiphon begins with “O” and addresses Jesus with a unique title which comes from the prophecies of Isaias and Micheas (Micah), and whose initials, when read backwards, form an acrostic for the Latin “Ero Cras” which means “Tomorrow I come.”  ~ Fisheaters

O-Antiphons_02

17 Dec. O Sapientia – Wisdom
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.
18 Dec. O Adonai – Lord
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..
O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.
19 Dec. O Radix Jesse – Rooto anitphons
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.
O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come, to deliver us, and tarry not.
20 Dec. O Clavis David – Key
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.
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and lead forth the captive who sits in the shadows from his prison.
21 Dec. O Oriens – Dawn
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.
O dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and sun of justice: come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
22 Dec. O Rex Gentium – King
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
23 Dec. O Emmanuel – Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.
Capture2

Ero Cras

Take the first letters of each of the titles, starting with the last and working back to the first. You spell: EROCRAS or “ero cras… I will be (there) tomorrow”.
Capture2
Resources:
Capture2
O Antiphons Playlist

In His JOY,

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