O Antiphon
The importance of the "O Antiphons" is twofold. First, each one is a title for the Messiah. Secondly, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. The Latin antiphons are from the Breviarium Romanum. The English versions, which are not always literal translations of the Latin, are from the Church of England's Common Worship liturgy.
O Sapientia
Latin:
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem,fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
English:
O Wisdom, coming forth 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.
Isaiah had prophesied:
This prophecy is also relevant in that it describes the Messiah as "coming forth from the mouth of the Most High", which is very significant in light of the Christian doctrine, rooted in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, according to which Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the Incarnate Word of God the Father.
O Adonai
The prophet Isaiah
Latin:
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.
English:
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bushand gave him the law on Sinai:Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
Isaiah had prophesied:
O Radix JesseTree of Jesse Latin:
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum,quem Gentes deprecabuntur:veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
English:
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths,to you the nations will make their prayer:Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
Isaiah had prophesied:
O Clavis
David Samuel anointing David
Latin:
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit;claudis, et nemo aperit:veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
English:
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut;you shut and no one can open:Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Isaiah had prophesied:
The Dawn Breaking, the Light of the World
Latin:
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
English:
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. (Note: A literal translation of the Latin yields "O Rising Sun", but the poetic "O Morning Star" is often preferred.)
Isaiah had prophesied:
O Rex Gentium
Prince of Peace
Latin:
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:veni, et salva hominem,quem de limo formasti.
English:
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:Come and save the human race,which you fashioned from clay.
Isaiah had prophesied:
O Emmanuel
Mary with child
Latin:
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
English:
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour:Come and save us, O Lord our God. Isaiah had prophesied:
O Sapientia
Latin:
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem,fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
English:
O Wisdom, coming forth 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.
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2-3
- "[...] he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom." Isaiah 28:29
This prophecy is also relevant in that it describes the Messiah as "coming forth from the mouth of the Most High", which is very significant in light of the Christian doctrine, rooted in the first chapter of the Gospel of John, according to which Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is the Incarnate Word of God the Father.
O Adonai
The prophet Isaiah
Latin:
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.
English:
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bushand gave him the law on Sinai:Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "[...] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins." Isaiah 11:4-5
- "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king; he will save us." Isaiah 33:22
O Radix JesseTree of Jesse Latin:
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum,quem Gentes deprecabuntur:veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
English:
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will shut their mouths,to you the nations will make their prayer:Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Isaiah 11:1
- "On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:10
O Clavis
David Samuel anointing David
Latin:
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit;claudis, et nemo aperit:veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
English:
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut;you shut and no one can open:Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open." Isaiah 22:22
- "His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore." Isaiah 9:7
- "...To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."Isaiah 42:7.
The Dawn Breaking, the Light of the World
Latin:
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
English:
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. (Note: A literal translation of the Latin yields "O Rising Sun", but the poetic "O Morning Star" is often preferred.)
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined." Isaiah 9:2
O Rex Gentium
Prince of Peace
Latin:
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:veni, et salva hominem,quem de limo formasti.
English:
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:Come and save the human race,which you fashioned from clay.
Isaiah had prophesied:
- "For a child has been born for us, a son given us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6
- "He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Isaiah 2:4
O Emmanuel
Mary with child
Latin:
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
English:
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour:Come and save us, O Lord our God. Isaiah had prophesied:
- "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14