If you’ve spent any time in church this Advent, you’ve likely sung the popular seasonal hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” If your parish used it as a processional hymn, as we did on the Third Sunday of Advent this year at St. John’s, you may have noticed that it’s very loooooooong (note the eight O’s that match the eight verses).
You may also have noticed that the verses are all assigned a date — beginning with December 17 and ending with December 23rd. So of course it’s long! It’s meant to be sung over a full week! Sort of.
You see, this hymn is based upon the so-called “O Antiphons,” an ancient devotion and rich spiritual tradition used during the waning days of Advent.
Confused? Fear Not! (as we churchy types like to say this time of year). For behold I bring you the key to cracking the O Antiphon code.
The O Antiphons have been used as an Advent devotion as early as the 5th century. Benedictine monasteries provide some of the earliest evidence of their usage and by the 8th century they were commonly used in Roman churches. There are seven “O's” (the name simply derives from the start of each antiphon — “O Sapienta, O Adonai, etc) and each one recalls a Scriptural reference to Jesus.
Thus, the following antiphons are appointed for the corresponding days:
December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
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.
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai's height,
in ancient times didst give the law, in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
O come, thou Branch of Jesse's tree, free them from Satan's tyranny
that trust thy mighty power to save, and give them victory o'er the grave.
that trust thy mighty power to save, and give them victory o'er the grave.
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly
make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.
December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad divisions cease, and be thyself our King of Peace.
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God-With-Us)
O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
In Anglican usage the O Antiphons are traditionally used before and after the Magnificat at Evening Prayer (sung at Evensong) or as the Alleluia verse before the gospel reading during the appointed days.
For many, the O Antiphons are still used as private devotions and it is in this way that I'd encourage you to engage them over the next week. (If you're a Latin enthusiast, you may want to check out New Zealander Bosco Peters' terrific post on the subject on his Liturgy blog, as he includes all the Latin texts, Scriptural references, and a reflection on each one).
Anyway, as a devotion, take the corresponding verse in the familiar hymn and reflect on it for a few minutes each day. How do you experience Jesus through the particular verse? What is happening in your own life that might be a parallel? How might you be inspired by the verse as you draw nearer to the Incarnational event on Christmas Day?
Then don't forget to end each session with the refrain -- Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
1 comment:
For shame, the truncated Roman version: Mary weeps!
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