Time to refresh. I study the "O Antiphons" a little more every year. It's interesting to see how they're structured. They're all based on images from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Each antiphon begins with an invocation to Jesus with a title inspired by the Hebrew Scriptures. Then there's an amplification of that title stating an attribute of God with which humankind has been gifted. The antiphon ends with an appeal which always commences with the invitation, "Come!"
Source: Patricia Datchuck Sanchez, National Catholic Reporter.
Merry Christmas!
-Joe-
As the days wind down toward Christmas, the business of gifts will be uppermost on the minds of some of us. Unfortunately, this preoccupation will be exacerbated by the last-ditch efforts of a crass commercialism that daily reminds us the countdown. . . “only three more shopping days ’til Christmas!” In an effort to lift the hearts and minds and energies of believers to a more authentic celebration of this season, the church puts before the gathered assembly a sort of “countdown” of its own. Beginning on December 17, one of a series of seven antiphons is sung each day at the Magnificat of the Divine Office. Known as the “O Antiphons” because each begins with the joyful interjection “O”, these special chants enumerate the gifts of God to humankind while “counting down” the days toward Christmas. Because the majority of the people in the pew do not have the time or opportunity to pray the Divine Office, it may prove helpful to familiarize them with these wonderful ancient prayers.
Similarly structured, each antiphon is comprised of: an invocation to the Messiah with a title inspired by the Hebrew Scriptures; an amplification of that title stating an attribute of God with which humankind has been gifted; and an appeal which always commences with the invitation, “Come!” While the titles of Christ can be traced to prayers written by Pope St. Damascus in the mid-fourth century C.E., the antiphons, as such, have been accredited to an anonymous cantor who lived in the late seventh or early eighth century C.E.
As each antiphon is prayed, believers are reminded that the most important gifts of this season are the ones that God alone can give:
December 17: O Wisdom, O Holy Word of God, you tend to all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come, show your people the way to salvation.
December 18: O Lord and Leader of Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush and who gave him the law of life, come with outstretched arms to save us.
December 19: O Root of Jesse, raised up as a saving sign for all peoples. Come, without delay.
December 20: O Key of David who opens and no one closes, Come, open the gates of death and lead your captive people from the darkness into freedom.
December 21 (solstice): O Morning Star and Sun of Justice, radiant dawn and splendor of eternal light. Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
December 22: O King of all and joy of every human heart, Come and save all whom you have made.
December 23: O Emmanuel, God-with-us, Come and set us free.
Scholars have determined that the inverse order of the initials of each invocation (Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, Emmanuel) constitute the acrostic ERO CRAS. This has been interpreted as the response of Christ to the faithful who have daily called out to him: “Tomorrow I shall be there!”