Mid-December marks the coldest and darkest time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Many of us leave for work or school before or just as the sun is rising. And we arrive home just as the sun is setting or when it is already dark.
As Christmas draws near, the natural darkness of winter can feel overwhelming. It can impact our energy levels and moods. This reality increases our longing for the Savior to bring His light into the world, so that the darkness will no longer overcome us (see John 1:5).
We find some comfort in the glow of Advent candles and twinkle lights, as we dare to abandon ourselves to the incredible sense of hope that is growing in our souls. For we sense that the Light is just beyond the horizon, and we recall this promise in Zechariah’s Canticle, recited daily during Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and proclaimed as the Gospel in the daily Mass of Christmas Eve:
“ [. . .] the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).
But as we hope for the Light in the midst of winter’s darkness, something else threatens our mid-Advent peace.
There is a hecticness in the air this time of year, as choir concerts, office parties, and family commitments fill our calendars. And somehow our to-do list keeps getting longer, even though we constantly check tasks off of it. How is that even possible?
Meet the O Antiphons
Thankfully, at this point in the Advent season, the Catholic Church invites us to pause, take a deep breath, and enter into a special prayer practice called the “O Antiphons.”
From December 17 to 23, the O Antiphons count down the last seven days of Advent in anticipation of the birth of Christ on Christmas. The O Antiphons encourage us to set aside the hustle and bustle and enter the final week of Advent with intentionality in order to end well what we started. It is as if they are whispering to us, beckoning us not to give up or lose hope. Look to the horizon! Jesus is coming! It won’t be long now!
While the O Antiphons are not feast days nor do they appear on the liturgical calendar, they are an ancient liturgical custom that dates back to the fourth century. Traditionally, they are sung or recited during Vespers (Evening Prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours, just before the Magnificat (the Canticle of Mary).
Each day brings a new antiphon, which corresponds to a Messianic title for Jesus that was prophesied in the Old Testament.
- December 17 // O Sapientia (Wisdom)
- December 18 // O Adonai (Lord and Ruler)
- December 19 // O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
- December 20 // O Clavis David (Key of David)
- December 21 // O Oriens (Dawn of the East)
- December 22 // O Rex Gentium (King of the Gentiles)
- December 23 // O Emmanuel (God With Us)
If there is a familiarity to the O Antiphons, that is because they also comprise the verses of the beloved Advent hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
And when put in reverse order, the first letter of each Latin word is an acrostic (also in Latin), ERO CRAS, which means “Tomorrow, I will come.”
Yes, the O Antiphons compile the longing in every human heart for a Savior. They help us recall the long wait between the fall of Adam and Eve and the birth of Christ, and they also invite us to contemplate our own waiting for Jesus on Christmas and for His coming at the end of time.
When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming” (Catechism of the Catholic Church § 524).
The O Antiphons renew our devotion to the true purpose of Advent during the last week of the season, leading up to Christmas.
What a gift! Especially in winter’s darkness and as we are trying so hard to finish up our Christmas preparations. Even more so, if our Advent prayer routine has begun to feel more like a battle than a refuge, the O Antiphons are here to carry us through. With the O Antiphons, we can remain peaceful and prayerful, without allowing the stress of the Christmas countdown to prevail.
How to Pray the O Antiphons
Below are three simple ways to pray the O Antiphons during the last week of Advent.
Adding in the O Antiphons
To add the O Antiphons to your prayer routine, simply conclude your prayer time with the antiphon of the day; you can follow it with the Magnificat.
December 17 //
O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge!
December 18 //
O Leader of the House of Israel, giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: come to rescue us with your mighty power!
December 19 //
O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay!
December 20 //
O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!
December 21 //
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
December 22 //
O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!
December 23 //
O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God!
Pondering in Our Hearts
To spend a little more time with the O Antiphons, we can follow Mary’s prayerful example by pondering each antiphon in our heart (see Luke 2:18). We can do this by incorporating lectio divina with the Scripture verses that coincide with each O Antiphon. In addition, we can take some time to journal with the O Antiphons using this free resource.
Praying With Children
Children are already excited for Christmas to arrive. We can harness that excitement by introducing them to the O Antiphons. We can tell the story of how the Israelites waited for thousands of years for Jesus, the Messiah, to come. And we can relate it to our own waiting for Christ to come not only on Christmas, but also at the end of time.
When lighting the Advent wreath each night, families can sing the verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel that corresponds to the day’s O Antiphon. We can hang ornaments on a mini tree or a Jesse Tree, one for each night of the O Antiphons, which is a nice visual for the whole family.
The O Antiphons are indeed a beautiful way to pray during the last week of Advent, as we anticipate and prepare for the birth of Christ on Christmas. They also invite us to ponder our own need for the Savior to be born in our hearts and to reign in our lives forevermore.
Sarah Damm is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a Catholic wife and mother of six children, living in Minnesota. She spends her days running errands, helping with homework, and keeping up with laundry and the family schedule. Sarah loves her faith, coffee, and good books. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Sarah's posts here.
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