The Great O Antiphons of Advent

Saturday begins the Great O Antiphons, prayed during the last week of Advent.  You can download and print the O Antiphons at The Crossroads Initiative (a ministry of Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio).  The O Antiphons are used during evening prayer as the antiphon when praying the Magnificat for the Liturgy of the Hours.  Praying the O Antiphons together as a family during the last week before Christmas is a great way to build excitement for our celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas Day!  Here is what The Crossroad Initiative had to say about the O Antiphons:

Each of the O Antiphons highlights a different title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel.  Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah.  A particularly fascinating feature of the O Antiphons is that the first letter of each invocation, when read backwards, forms an acrostic in Latin: the first letters of Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel in reverse form the Latin words: ERO CRAS.  These can be understood as the words of Christ, responding to his people's plea, saying "Tomorrow I will be there."

Remember to go to The Crossroads Initiative to see the verses of the O Antiphons and download a printable version you can use to pray next week!

May you have a blessed final week of Advent!