Michael Brooks
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the O's of Advent, are antiphons used at Vespers during the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in the sixth or seventh century and are an ancient part of Catholic liturgy. Each antiphon is a title of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture, and they are used to count down the last seven days before Christmas with building anticipation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Origin | Likely 6th century, with some sources claiming 4th century |
| Origin Location | Italy |
| Frequency | Once a day |
| Time of Year | The last seven days of Advent, from December 17 to December 23 |
| Performance | Sung or recited |
| Text | In the original Latin, each text begins with the vocative particle "O" |
| Text | Each antiphon is a title of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture |
| Text | The first letters of the titles, from last to first, form a Latin acrostic, "Ero Cras", meaning "Tomorrow, I will be [there]" |
| Text | Each of the seven antiphons begins by addressing Jesus using an Old Testament title for the Messiah |
| Vestments | Clergy don purple vestments |
| Food | Families incorporate foods that remind them of the symbolism of the O Antiphons |
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What You'll Learn
O Antiphons are used at Vespers during the Magnificat
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the Great Os, are antiphons used at Vespers during the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in or before the sixth century, with the Roman Church singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century.
The O Antiphons are a set of seven antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17 to December 23, with each antiphon being read before the Magnificat during evening prayer or before the gospel. The antiphons are believed to address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. Each antiphon expresses the longing for the coming of Christ and the word "come" is used in every O Antiphon. The O Antiphons are not prayers but sentences applied to the particular purpose of meditation, thanksgiving, or emphasis on what follows, such as a prayer, psalm, Scripture, or canticle.
The O Antiphons are an important part of the Catholic Liturgy, counting down the last seven days before Christmas with building anticipation. They are considered a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming of Christ as the fulfillment of both Old Testament and present hopes. The repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
The O Antiphons are also used as the Alleluia verses for Mass in the Ordinary Form on the same days, with the traditional ordering from December 17 through December 23 also permitted. The Catholic personal ordinariates follow the practice for days from December 17 to December 23, with the O Antiphon used as the Magnificat antiphon at Evensong and the Alleluia Verse at Mass. Some Anglican churches, such as the Church of England, also use the O Antiphons at Evensong, often according to medieval English usage, beginning on December 16.
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They are sung or recited from 17-23 December
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the Great Os, are recited or sung during Vespers for the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in the sixth century, with Amalarius writing a detailed commentary on them in the ninth century.
The O Antiphons are recited or sung from 17 December to 23 December, with each antiphon beginning with an "O". The seven antiphons are:
- O' Sapientia (O Wisdom), from Isaiah 11:2-3
- O' Adonai (O Lord or Ruler), from Isaiah 11:4-5 and 33:22
- O' Radix (O Root of Jesse), from Isaiah 11:1
- O' Clavis (O Key of David), from Isaiah 22:22
- O' Oriens (O Radiant Dawn)
- O Rex Gentium (He is the king of all the world of man)
- O Emmanuel
The O Antiphons are a significant part of Catholic liturgy, with each antiphon addressing Christ with a magnificent Messianic title based on Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. They embody the longing for the coming of the Divine Messiah and are a beautiful and thought-provoking part of the Advent season.
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The O Antiphons are also known as the Great Advent Antiphons
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the O's of Advent, are antiphons used at Vespers during the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in or before the sixth century, with the earliest reference to the text found in Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy". The O Antiphons are considered a key musical feature of the days leading up to Christmas, with each antiphon being a title of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.
The O Antiphons are introduced into the daily prayer life of the Church during Advent, with each antiphon addressing Christ with a Messianic title based on Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. The antiphons are believed to embody the longing of all for the Divine Messiah, with the repeated use of the imperative "Come!". For example, "O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!". The O Antiphons are also associated with special treats, with different monks furnishing extra treats for the community on these days.
In the Roman rite, the O Antiphons are sung or recited for the Magnificat at Vespers from December 17 to December 23. The first letters of the titles, from last to first, form a Latin acrostic, "Ero cras", meaning "Tomorrow, I will be [there]", reflecting the theme of the antiphons. The O Antiphons have been a part of the Roman Church's liturgy since at least the eighth century and continue to be an important tradition in Catholic and Anglican churches.
The O Antiphons have also inspired musical compositions by various composers, including Bob Chilcott, Paweł Łukaszewski, Peter Hallock, Healey Willan, and James MacMillan. These compositions contribute to the rich tradition of the O Antiphons in Christian worship and devotional practices during Advent.
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They are mostly ancient verses from the Old Testament
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the Great Os, are mostly ancient verses from the Old Testament. They are used at Vespers during the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. The O Antiphons are believed to have originated in Italy in or before the sixth century, with Amalarius writing a detailed commentary on them in the ninth century. They are thought to be a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes and prophecies of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfilment of Old Testament hopes. The repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.
Each of the seven O Antiphons begins by addressing Jesus using an Old Testament title for the Messiah, all of which are from the Book of Isaiah. The first O Antiphon, O' Sapientia (O Wisdom), is from Isaiah 11:2-3. The second, O' Adonai (O Lord or Ruler), is from Isaiah 11:4-5 and 33:22. The third, O' Radix (O Root of Jesse), is from Isaiah 11:1. The fourth, O' Clavis (O Key of David), is from Isaiah 22:22. The fifth, O Oriens (O Radiant Dawn), is part of James MacMillan's Strathclyde Motets. The sixth, O Rex Gentium, recognises Jesus as the king of all the world. The seventh O Antiphon, O Emmanuel, is used on the 21st.
The O Antiphons are not prayers but sentences applied to the particular purpose of meditation and thanksgiving. They are short texts that frame another biblical text, usually a psalm or a canticle, and give emphasis and direction to the prayer. They are sung or recited before the Magnificat during evening prayer or before the gospel. The Roman Church has been singing the O Antiphons since at least the eighth century, and they are considered a key musical feature of the days leading up to Christmas.
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O Antiphons are not prayers but sentences for meditation
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the Great Os, are antiphons used at Vespers during the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in or before the sixth century, with the earliest reference to the text found in Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy".
The O Antiphons are not prayers in and of themselves, but rather sentences applied to the particular purpose of meditation, thanksgiving, and framing another biblical text. They are mostly biblical texts or texts from saints' lives. In the liturgy of the hours, the O Antiphons give an interpretative frame for the psalms or the canticles they precede and follow, providing direction to the prayer. They are often sung or recited before the Magnificat during evening prayer or before the gospel, with each antiphon serving as a title of Christ, highlighting one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.
Each of the seven O Antiphons begins by addressing Jesus using an Old Testament title for the Messiah, all of which are derived from the Book of Isaiah. For example, on December 17, the antiphon is "O Sapientia" (O Wisdom), and on December 18, it is "O Adonai" (O Lord or Ruler). These antiphons express the longing for the coming of Christ, with the word "come" being used in every O Antiphon.
The O Antiphons are a significant part of Catholic liturgy, counting down the last seven days before Christmas with building anticipation. They are also used as the Alleluia verses for Mass in the Ordinary Form, with the traditional ordering from December 17 through December 23 also permitted.
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Frequently asked questions
The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or the O's of Advent, are antiphons used at Vespers during the Magnificat on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They are believed to have originated in Italy in or before the sixth century.
The O Antiphons are used to herald the coming birth of Christ. They are mostly ancient and thought-provoking verses that fit the Advent season perfectly. They are sung or recited during evening prayer or before the gospel.
The O Antiphons are used from 17 December to 23 December, the last seven days before Christmas.
