Adam, OHC, Reflects on the O Antiphons

Some of you may have heard of the "O Antiphons" which date to the 7th or 8th Century are became part of the Offices in late Advent. If not, at least you probably know the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"--which is a hymn version of those antiphons. (The version of this hymn in the Canadian Hymnal (Common Praise) was arranged by Healey Willan, BTW.) It's a very traditional feature of the Daily Office and is very popular among high-church Anglicans.

Adam McCoy, OHC, has a series of reflections on his blog based on the Antiphons. Here is part of his introduction to them for you liturgy lovers...

These antiphons are called "Great O's" because each begins with the exclamation "O", which when chanted in plainsong is a rather long musical phrase. They seem to date back to the seventh or eighth centuries and were written to adorn the sung monastic office in Advent. There are seven Great O's in the continental liturgical tradition, eight in the English rite. The eighth is a meditation on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The seven first antiphons each begins with a title from the Old Testament tradition which describes a saving aspect of God: Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of the Nations, Emmanuel. The saving action of each of these is briefly characterized, followed by a brief prayer which begins: Veni, Come, and accomplish that great work in our time. The eighth does not follow this threefold format, but is a brief dialogue between Mary and the daughters of Jerusalem on the mystery of the Incarnation. (source)

Here is a list of the Antiphons (based on Anglican usage) with links to Adam's reflections...

• December 16: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 17: O Adonai (O Adonai)
• December 18: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 19: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 20: O Oriens (O Morning Star)
• December 21: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
• December 22: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)

-t