Today’s episode is a simulcast post that I produced for the Catholic New Media Advent Calander. It’s my third year reflecting upon the O Antiphons; prayerful songs that are chanted during the Roman Catholic Vespers in the Octave before Christmas, starting on December 17th.
The origin of the O Antiphons aren’t exactly known, there’s a reference made to them by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius (Ann-ee-chee-oos Manlee-oos Sever-eenoos Boe-thee-us), a Christian philosopher of the early 6th century.
In the 8th century these prayerful chants became a part of the liturgical celebrations in Rome
The O Antiphons are each used to highlight a title for the messiah: Christ of Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Rising Son, King of Nations and of course, Emmanuel: God is with us.
Each chant makes reference to a prophecy of the 8th century BC prophet Isaiah.
For example, from Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Today is the day of the first O Antiphon".
From Isaiah 11:2-3
“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”
You know the O Atiphons from the John Mason Neale song written in the mid-19th century: titled “Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel”
Veni, O Sapientia,
Quae hic disponis omnia,
Veni, viam prudentiae
Ut doceas et gloriae.
Quae hic disponis omnia,
Veni, viam prudentiae
Ut doceas et gloriae.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
