From the 17 of December until December 23, the office of readings has contained prayers traditionally known as the “O Antiphons.” These antiphons embrace the specific messianic hopes from the Old Testament that foresee the coming of the Messiah. We know this antiphon today by the popular advent hymn “O Come O Come Emanual.” Now, the medieval mind was rather creative. When these antiphons were recited, the first letter of each Old Testament attribution to Jesus forms the following: sarcore. However, in reverse the letters spell out ero cras. Now as you know from your study of Latin, that means, tomorrow I’m here, meaning that on Christmas eve we begin to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
December 17 O Sapientia (Wisdom)
December 18 O Adonai (Lord)
December 19 O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
December 20 O Clavis David (Key of David
December 21 O Oriens (O coming Dawn)
December 22 O Rex Gentium (King of the Gentiles)
December 23 O Emmanuel (God With us)
The series begins on December 17, yesterday, with an invocation to the God’s wisdom and how it has ordered all the world. This ordering and God’s continued providential action stands as the dividing point between men and women of faith and those who see the world as a spontaneous lurch towards the strongest of the species. Both views have their consequences, and the church reminds us on the first of these antiphons that the Wisdom of God is the most secure position for the human community. This wisdom, the Catholic church has always taught, can be known in part by reason which in turn supports the truths of faith. That faith, supported by human reason, teaches us that the wisdom of God excels beyond all others.
Today, December 18, the antiphon calls upon the Lord of Moses and the giver of the Law.
O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and gave him the Law on Sinai: come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.
The antiphon recalls both God’s salvific work for the people of Israel and the giving of the law. The prayer centers our attention on God’s providential action in human history but also recalls that this action entails a relationship which Jesus identified as summarized in the two fundamental commandments of Love of God and Love of Neighbor.