The Great O Antiphons Date used (Rome) Date used (Potrero) Latin text English text

Decemb Proper er 17 27 Sunday closest to Novemb er 9 Decemb Proper er 18 28 Sunday closest to Novemb er 16 Decemb Proper er 19 29

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina Legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in Signum populorum, super Sunday quem continebunt closest reges os suum, to Novemb quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni er 23 ad liberandum nos, Christ the King jam noli tardare. O Clavis David, et Sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem

O Root of Jesse, standing as an Ensign to the people, before whom kings are mute and to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us, and do not delay. O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and none can close, you close and none can open: Come and free the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.
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Decemb Advent 1 er 20 Sunday closest to Novemb er 30

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in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Decemb Advent 2 er 21 Sunday closest to Decemb er 7 O Oriens, Splendor lucis aeternae, et Sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. O Dayspring, Splendor of light everlasting and Sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

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Date used (Rome) Decemb er 22

Date used (Potrero) Advent 3 Sunday closest to Decemb er 14 Advent 4 Sunday closest to Decemb er 21

Latin text

English text

O Rex gentium, et Desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. O Emmanuel, Rex et Legifer noster, Exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Virgo virginum, quomodo fiet istud? Quia nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem. Filiae Jerusalem, quid me admiramini? Divinum est mysterium hoc quod cernitis.

O King of the nations and their Desire, cornerstone joining them and making them one: Come and save mankind, whom you formed out of clay. O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver,Hope of the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Decemb er 23

Date used (Sarum only) December 23

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For never before you was there any like you, nor shall there be another. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel at me? The thing you behold is a divine mystery.

According to the Sarum Rite in England, each of the seven general antiphons is used (with the Song of Mary at Evening Prayer) one day earlier than at Rome, that is, beginning on December 16. The series then concludes on December 23 with the eighth antiphon, O Virgo virginum. English texts (except for the variant antiphon of Sarum) downloaded from http://www.stpaulskingsville.org/oantiphons.htm and adapted as per http://www.umilta.net/sophia.html and other sources, 2011.11.23 Latin texts downloaded from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons 2011.11.23

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