Advent candels
The Greater Advent or O Antiphons are antiphons used at daily prayer in the evenings of the last days of Advent. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes from Scripture.
December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Adonai)
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Sunrise)
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)
The hymn " O come, O come, Emmanuel" (in Latin, Veni Emmanuel) is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.
The Great "O" Antiphons
O Wisdom, Proceeding from the mouth
of the Most High, pervading and
permeating all creation, mightily
ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way
of prudence.
December 17
O Adoni, and ruler of the house of
Israel, who appeared to Moses in
the burning bush and gave him the
Law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm
and redeem us.
December 18
O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign
before the peoples, before whom all
kings are mute, to whom the nations
will do homage:
Come quickly to deliver us.
December 19
O Key of David and scepter of the
house of Israel, You open and no one
can close, You close and no one
can open:
Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and in the shadow of death.
December 20
O Dayspring, splendor of light
everlasting:
Come and enlighten those who sit
in darkness and in the shadow
of death.
December 21
O King of the nations, the ruler
they long for, the cornerstone
uniting all people:
Come and save us all,
whom You formed out of clay.
December 22
O Emmanuel, our King and our Lord,
the anointed for the nations and
their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
December 23
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Oh, come, oh, 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!
Oh, come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord'rest 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!
Oh, come, oh, come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the Law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come Thou Branch of Jesse's tree,
Free them from Satan's tyrany
That trust Thy mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
