On December 17th, the Church’s Advent liturgy begins to focus in a particular way on the Nativity of the Lord. The prayers, readings, and preface at Mass as well as the readings, antiphons for the Gospel canticles, intercessions, and prayers at the Liturgy of the Hours concentrate more resolutely than during the preceding days of Advent on the coming feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

The great “O Antiphons” have a particular role in these days as they have been used for centuries as the antiphons for the Magnificat. Each antiphon, always sung in a very similar melody, begins with a title of Christ, usually taken from the Old Testament, and followed by the petition that he come to us (veni) and act on our behalf:

• December 17 – O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 18 – O Adonai (O Lord)
• December 19 – O Radix Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 20 – O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 21 – O Oriens (O Daystar) [after this date, the days begin to get longer]
• December 22 – O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
• December 23 – O Emmanuel (O God-with-Us)

Note: The verses of the well-known Advent Hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” are based on the O Antiphons of the liturgy.

Do you know what these Old Testament images of the O Antiphons represent?
(Click the image below to find out!)