The last of the seven Great “O” Antiphons of the liturgy, that date b=ack to the seventh or eighth century. These antiphons are chanted or recited at Vespers, or Evening Prayer, the Antiphon before the Magnificat. They are also the Alleluia verse at the Mass.
Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and Savior: R: Come to save us, and set us free, O Lord our God. Isaiah 7:14; 33:22. Symbols: tablets of stone, Chalice and Host.
Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” In these words, the Lord Jesus, for whose coming we prepare in Advent and to whom we address these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us. The O Antiphons not only bring intensity to our Advent preparations, but they bring our preparations to a joyful conclusion. Each antiphon begins with “O” and include a different Scriptural image through the Old Testament, all imploring the Messiah to come. As Elsa Chaney in Twelve Days of Christmas states, “They seem to sum up all our Advent longing as they paint in vivid terms the wretched condition of mankind and his need of a Savior.”
May the God of peace sanctify us completely and may our spirits souls and bodies be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Try to spend five minutes in daily prayer and contemplation to better recognize the Christ Child and more fully receive His boundless blessings. Click the link for the full text of prayers to Pray the Solemn Christmas Novena based on the Seven Great O Antiphons.
![Paul VI asserts that he has the feeling that “from some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered into the temple of God” ((Insegnamenti [1972], 707).](https://i0.wp.com/speramusposterous.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/220px-paolovi.jpg?w=235&h=291&ssl=1 "220px-Paolovi")
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The last of the seven Great “O” Antiphons of the liturgy, that date back to the seventh or eighth century. These antiphons are chanted or recited at Vespers, or Evening Prayer, the Antiphon before the Magnificat. They are also the Alleluia verse at the Mass.
December 23
O EMMANUEL GOD WITH US,
Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and Savior: R: Come to save us, and set us free, O Lord our God. Isaiah 7:14; 33:22. Symbols: tablets of stone, Chalice and Host.
Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” In these words, the Lord Jesus, for whose coming we prepare in Advent and to whom we address these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us.
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