O Antiphons
The "O Antiphons" is an ancient liturgical tradition that is being prayed before the Magnificat on the Liturgy of the Hours, eight days before Christmas. It is a prayer that has been pleading for the arrival of the promised Messiah since the Old Testament, and it has finally found fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. It is composed of the titles of the Messiah, and it ends with an expression of anticipation.
Down below is the chronological order of O antiphons starting December 17 until December 23 (He Cometh by Fr. McGarry).
In the first, O Sapientia, we take a backward flight into the recesses of eternity to address Wisdom, the Word of God.
In the third, O Radix Jesse, we have come to the time when God was preparing the line of David (about 1100 B.C.).
In the fourth, O Clavis David, we have come to the year 1000.
In the fifth, O Oriens we see that the line of David is elevated so that the peoples may look on a rising star in the east
In the sixth, O Rex Gentium, we know that He is king of all the world of man.
This brings us to the evening before the vigil, and before coming to the town limits of Bethlehem, we salute Him with the last Great O, O Emmanuel, God-with-us.
The background and outline of the O Antiphons is the following:
 |
From: https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/o/o-antiphons.php"THE O ANTIPHONS"       |
