O Antiphons

Here is the full set of O Antiphons, created for Call to Worship magazine. The series of antiphons were chants or hymns to be sung on the seven days leading into Christmas. Here  are the block prints in order.

O Wisdom (O Sapientia)

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

I have always loved the vision of Wisdom in the Old Testament as the female person of God. She became neutered in the Greek and changed to the Holy Spirit, so I was grateful for this chance to remember that one of our oldest understandings of God has a female personification.

O Adonai (O Lord)

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.


O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse)

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.


O Key of David (O Clavis David)

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.


O Morning Star (O Oriens)

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.


O King of Nations (O Rex Gentium)

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.


O Emmanuel (God With Us)

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.