17 - 23 December
The O'Antiphons were composed by the 8th century. The first written witness documented: Anglosaxon, Cynewulf, 8th c. These are daily antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers and are used in shortened form as Alleluia verses before the Gospel of the day. The O'Antiphons are popularized in the hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
The O'Antiphons are seven distinct titles for Jesus Christ. The "O" is an exclamation of wonder (Analarius of Metz) about some wonderful vision of who Jesus Christ is. The Magnificat expresses gratitude due to this wonderous revelation.
The chart below outlines the content and intent of praise of the O'Antiphons:
Title |
Acrostic |
Divinity of Christ |
Salvation History |
Wisdom (1 Cor 1.20) [come] |
Sapientia | Disposes all things | God creates world = creation |
| Lord/Ruler of Israel [come] | Arbiter | Imparts the law of Moses on Sinai | God gives law to Israel |
| Root of Jesse [come] | Radix | Nations bow before him in worship | Christ descendant of David = sign of the people |
| Key of David (Rev 3.7) [come] | Clavis | Opens and no one shall shut | Christ descends into the underworld to liberate captives |
| Dawn [come] | Origo | Sun of Justice Splendor of Eternal Light | Christ risen from the dead |
| King of Nations [come] | Rex | King of the Nations | Christ unites Jews and Gentiles into one people of God |
| Emmanuel [come] | Emmanuel | Lord our God | Christ, expectation of all Nations, looks forward to the second coming |
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