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                                       December 14, 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent 

                             Praying the O Antiphons! During the Christmas Novena

Starting from Dec 17 and until Dec 23, for the next seven days, the Church will chant and pray the O Antiphons, especially at the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of Hours before the Magnificat. The "O Antiphons" are short prayers, basically taken from the book of Isaiah, that express various prophetic titles of the Messiah. Each antiphon begins with the exclamation "O", which is why they are popularly called the "O Antiphons." A Christian Martyr Boethius (480-524) lightly mentioned the existence of these antiphons in the sixth century. It is believed that the Benedictine Monks have properly arranged the antiphons and used them at vespers as antiphons for Magnificat. From 1970 onwards, these antiphons were included in the Mass for the Gospel acclamation. Each of the O Antiphons has two parts: the first part addresses the title of the Messiah, and the second part is the petition asking the Lord to come and deliver us. If you look at the Latin text of the seven O Antiphons, you will see these seven titles of the Messiah: Sapientia (Wisdom) Isaiah 11:2–3; 28:29; Adonai (Lord) Isaiah 11:4–5; 33:22;  Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse) Isaiah 1:1; 11:10; Clavis David (Key of David) Isaiah 9:6; 22:22; Oriens (Rising Sun) Isaiah 9:1; Rex Gentium (King of the Nations) Isaiah 9:5; 2:4; and Emmanuel (God with us) Isaiah 7:14. 

When these name are arranged in reverse order, that is from the last to the first, we can this order: Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia. And if we take the first letter of each name, we get the Latin Word ERO CRAS which is translated as Tomorrow I will come. Yes, it is the promise, the Lord made to us. He will come again in his glory. These seven prophetic tiles, which Isaiah uses for the Messiah also reveal the identity and the mission of Messiah. Therefore, let us pray these seven O Antiphons during the octave before Christmas. 

December 17: O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge! 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! December 19: O Root of Jesse’s stem, sign of God’s love for all his people: come to save us without delay! December 20: O Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness! 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. December 22: O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! December 23: O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: come to save us, Lord our God! The song, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel also contains these 7 O Antiphons. — Fr. Jesu