It's Time to Return to the Waning Days of Advent: The O Antiphons of Advent ~ Contributed by M. A. Allen

The "O" Antiphons of Advent

Beginning December 17th and ending on December 23rd, people who daily pray The Liturgy of the Hours will find themselves praying the great "O" Antiphons.  Each day during the next seven days, a different name describing Christ found in the Old Testament is used during Evening Prayer or Vespers.

Here they are:

December 17 - 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.

December 18 - O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai:  Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

December 19 - 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.

December 20 - O Key of David and scepter 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 the darkness and the shadow of death, Isaiah had prophesied.

December 21 - O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:  Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

December 22 - O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:  Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

December 23 - O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior:  Come and save us, O Lord our God.

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I wrote this article a few years ago on my personal blog, "Now is the Time" and decided to use it (with minor changes) here on our parish blog.  I thought the O Antiphons were an interesting subject especially since they are so appropriate during this Advent time.



  

Fr. Jim's Jots ~ First Sunday of Advent

Greetings!

Advent Blessings! Advent is a time of preparation for The Feast of the Incarnation of the Word made flesh, Christmas.  A period of spiritual preparation for Christmas where we are called to "prepare the way of the Lord" through acts of kindness, works for charity, celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and being thankful for the gift of Christ among us.  Thank you for your help and your support of our parish and many different ministries.

If your schedule permits, please plan on attending our Wednesday Mass at 6 p.m. and Friday Mass at noon.  Next week on Saturday, December 8th, we celebrate The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mass will be at 9 a.m.

Advent Blessings,

Fr. Jim

1st Sunday of Advent 2017 - Lighting the first candle on the Advent Wreath Photos by EJCooley

Davell and Sarah light the first candle of the Advent Wreath.

1st Sunday of Advent - 12.03.2017

~ Photos by EJCooley

4th Sunday of Advent at St. E's ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

The Jones Family light the Advent Wreath

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

4th Sunday of Advent ~ Decorating the Rectory and the Church for Christmas ~ Photos by Karen Yesolitis

The men of the parish lighting the Advent candles!

~ Photos by Karen Yesolitis

4th Sunday of Advent 2015 ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

The Men of the Parish Light the Advent Wreath

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

Gaudete Sunday ~ Third Sunday of Advent at St. E's, 2015 ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

 Third Sunday of Advent at St. E's!

Some of the women of the church

Lighting the Advent Candle

Diane, our cantor

Shelton doing a reading

~ Photos by Lula Lamb

Second Sunday of Advent at St. E's ~ Photos by Lula Lamb

~ Photos by Lula Lamb