“HEY! Unto YOU a child is born!”

Tough and scrappy little Gladys Herdman, one of “the worst children in the history of the world,” may not have been the most likely choice to play the angel in the Christmas play — but she knew how to deliver her line!

I watched “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” last weekend and was delighted by this new rendition of an old favorite. The unloved, rag-tag, unchurched Herdman kids bully their way into prime roles in the annual Christmas pageant. Everything goes hilariously wrong, of course. But by the end, the fictional town of Emmanuel gets a fresh look at the child who is “God with us” — and at who he came to save.

The O Antiphons help us welcome Jesus

It’s a good kick-off to the last stretch of Advent, when the liturgy launches us into a seven-day plea for Jesus to come to us. “O come, O come, Emmanuel!” we sing. The song is based on the O Antiphons, which frame Mary’s Magnificat canticle at vespers from December 17 – 23. Each antiphon is a plea for Jesus to come, each calling him by a different name: Wisdom, or Lord and Ruler, or Root of Jesse, for example.

In the movie, Imogene Herdman “would have called the baby Bill instead of Jesus,” saying “he’d never get out of the first grade if had to write” all the titles people gave him! But each name gives us a new way of looking at our Savior. And each antiphon prompts us to pray in a particular, personal way based on what the Lord (under that title) brings to us.

How to pray them at home

It’s worth taking time to savor these antiphons each day, even if you don’t pray vespers. You might say them with the Magnificat before you go to sleep. Or sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel with your family at dinner. Or take a few minutes in the morning to read the antiphon and meditate on a passage of Scripture that reflects its meaning (I’ve suggested some below).

Don’t miss the hidden message

Finally, for those of you who like acrostics: if you take the first letter of each Latin title and work backwards from December 23, they spell Ero cras (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia). In Latin, that means “Tomorrow I shall be (with you).”

“HEY! Unto YOU a child is born!”

+ + + + + + +

The O Antiphons begin today. Here they are*, together with related verses (or you can download a printable pdf here that gives each antiphon with related verses from Scripture and the hymn):

December 17

O WISDOM OF OUR GOD MOST HIGH,
GUIDING CREATION WITH POWER AND LOVE:
COME TO TEACH US THE PATH OF KNOWLEDGE!

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
(Psalm 19:7-10)

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!

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor 10:13)

Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

December 19

O ROOT OF JESSE’S STEM,
SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE FOR ALL HIS PEOPLE:
COME TO SAVE US WITHOUT DELAY!

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.[b]
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. (Isaiah 11:1-4)

December 20

O KEY OF DAVID,
OPENING THE GATES OF GOD’S ETERNAL KINGDOM:
COME AND FREE THE PRISONERS OF DARKNESS!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”[c]
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

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.

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

December 22

O KING OF ALL NATIONS AND KEYSTONE OF THE CHURCH:
COME AND SAVE MAN, WHOM YOU FORMED FROM THE DUST!

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:17-22)

December 23

O EMMANUEL, OUR KING AND GIVER OF LAW:
COME TO SAVE US, LORD OUR GOD!

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.[a] 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; 3 and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them;[c] 4 he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:3-5)

Come, Lord Jesus!

 

* Traditional O Antiphons cited here are from Catholic Blessings and Prayers as quoted on usccb.org.)

+ + + + + + +

Parts of this post explaining the O Antiphons have appeared previously on this site. 
© 2024 Sarah Christmyer