INTRODUCTIONBeginning
December 17, the antiphons for the Canticle of Mary at Evening Prayer
form a series of invocations, each beginning with “O”—hence they are
called the “Great O Antiphons.” Each antiphon addresses Christ by one of
the titles associated with him from the words of the prophets—Sapientia
(Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix (root), and so on. Medieval
poets loved intricacies of language, and the first letters of each of
these titles forms a reverse acrostic, spelling the Latin words ero
cras: “I will be there tomorrow.” We of course know the great “O”
antiphons very well—the favorite carol “O come, O come Emmanuel” is an
adaptation of them by Victorian poet and translator John M. Neale.
Liturgist Pierre Jounel writes, “These antiphons, which the Roman
Church was singing as long ago as the time of Charlemagne, not only
synthesize the messianism of the Old Testament in its purest form. Using
ancient biblical images, they also present the divine titles of the
incarnate Word, while their Veni (‘Come!’) is freighted with all
the present hopes the Church. In them the Advent liturgy reaches its
culmination.”
This novena of prayer is based on the great “O” antiphons.
O sapientia

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,
you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care.
Come and show your people the way to salvation.
Read
today’s scriptures
Intentions for today Let us ask God for the wisdom we need to
discern the coming of the Lord, not only in the great moments, but in
the everyday occurrences of our lives. Let us pray for all those who do
not believe in Christ, that they may find him by walking in the “path of
knowledge.”
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. |