Detail of the Magnificat Antiphons for Vespers in the 4th week of Advent, “The Poissy Antiphonal”, f. 30r (France, 1335–45) [State Library of Victoria] |
Since at least the eighth century, western Christians following Roman use have sung the O Antiphons before and after the Magnificat at Vespers on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve (December 17–23). These antiphons, or refrains, all beginning “O…”, invoke the Messiah with titles and images derived primarily from the Old Testament. Through the O Antiphons, the church calls to her Savior, “Veni, Come!” In reverse order, the initials of each invocation (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia) form an acrostic that spells out the Latin phrase, ero cras, in which the church hears the response of Christ, “I shall be [with you] tomorrow."
The medieval rite of Salisbury Cathedral (also known as “Sarum Use”), which was widely followed in the English church before the Reformation, began the O Antiphons on December 16, providing an additional antiphon (O Virgo virginum, “O Virgin of Virgins) for Christmas Eve. The Calendar of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer possibly reflects this usage in designating December 16 as O Sapientia (O Wisdom).
As a devotion for the last days of Advent (with partial inspiration from here), I have prepared a series of reflections—with visual and musical pairings—on each antiphon following the old English use.
Sources:
“O-Antiphons”, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, eds. F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone (2nd ed; Oxford, 1983).
M. Hugo, "O Antiphons," New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 10 (2nd ed; Gale, 2003).
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