The O Great Antiphons
Please click here for video and music reflection
LINK: https://youtu.be/NFxamscPveA
Antiphons are phrases of scripture or devotion poetry said or sung before and after a Canticle in the daily prayer Office (from the Latin anti meaning before and/or after, and phon meaning sound). The Great O Antiphons are ancient Christian poetry set to music and sung before and after the Magnificat in Evening Prayer (Vespers) on the seven days before Christmas Eve, with the evening of Christmas Eve completing the octave. The texts are of unknown origin and date at least from the ninth century. Each antiphon begins with the cry “O”, then gives a name of the coming Christ (Messiah) as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. In the old Roman rite the antiphons are sung from Dec. 17-23, but the medieval Sarum rite (in which are many Anglican/Episcopal roots) used to begin on Dec. 16, adding on Dec. 23, O Virgo virginum (O Virgin of virgins). The Great O Antiphons have been adapted as a popular Advent hymn, “O come, O come, Emmanuel” (Hymn 56), whose verses may be used as antiphons for the Magnificat on the appropriate days.
Over the next seven days, RJ and I will offer daily reflections on each of these Antiphons as we wait for the coming of Christ.
O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
O Wisdom that proceeds out of the mouth of the Most High, that reaches from one end (of the earth) to another, and orders all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!
O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.
“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
This also comes from the Lord of hosts;
he is wonderful in counsel,
and excellent in wisdom.”
– Isaiah 11:2–3; 28:29
