O Antiphons
The O Antiphons are part of the Divine Office, an official prayer of the church. These prayers are sung or said from December 17th through December 23rd.
They speak of our desire and longing for God, a longing which has existed throughout the history of God’s people from the beginning of time---through Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Moses, Aaron and Miriam, David, Solomon, Ruth and Naomi, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph. They were fulfilled on the night when Emmanuel (Jesus) was born.
During these final days of Advent, the hours of daylight become shorter and shorter. Even though our homes and neighborhoods are decorated with millions of twinkling lights, the hours of darkness gradually take over the hours of light.
The Great O Antiphons of Advent are a cherished part of the Christian tradition. Each O Antiphon consists of a title given to the Messiah in the Old Testament and a petition asking Christ to come and fulfill the Scriptural promise or prophecy. The O Antiphons are contained in the traditional Advent hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". The church prays these beautiful prayers during the final seven days of Advent.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
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O Wisdom
O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and rightly, come and teach us the way of prudence. Amen
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
Who orders all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * *
O Adonai (Adonai means Lord)
O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain; Come stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Amen
O come, O come our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times did give the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * *
O Root of Jesse
O Root of Jesse, that stands for an ensigna of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and to whom the nations do homage, come quickly to deliver us. Amen
O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * *
O Key of David
O Key of David, O royal power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven; Come, unlock the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and lead your captive people into freedom. Amen
O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that sets us free,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * *
O Dayspring
O Dawn of the east, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice, come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. Amen
O come, O Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * * *
O King of the Nations
O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of humankind, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Amen
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
Make all our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * * 
O Emmanuel
Emmanuel, our king and our Lord, the anointed of the nations and their Savior. Come and save us, O Lord our God. Amen
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
* * *
During Advent the children, teens and families worked to create an artistic expression for each of the O Antiphons.
