Advent

I used to think that the season of Advent in the Christian year was a time of identifying with the Old Testament people of God as they awaited the coming of the Messiah. While there is value in such identification, I've recently come to understand the deeper significance of Advent: we are meant not only to look back to the First Coming of Our Lord, but to look forward to His Second Coming.

I've always loved the carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." I used to imagine that we were singing it as the ancient Israelites might have done before the birth of Christ. In truth, though, the carol looks not only back but forward to the glorious return for which we wait. "Captive Israel" is the Church -- waiting in this broken world for the coming of her heavenly Bridegroom.

Our carol is based on a collection of ancient prayers, the O Antiphons. Probably originating in the 5th century, these prayers speak of various aspects of Christ's ministry, and look forward to his return. Each addresses Christ by a title drawn from the book of Isaiah. Traditionally, they have been used one each day during the week just before Christmas (17-23 December). However, they can be used throughout the Advent season -- beginning today gives time to complete the cycle three times before Christmas Eve.

Below are the original prayers in Latin, followed by my translations and the corresponding prophecies from the book of Isaiah. And here's the coolest part: the O Antiphons form an acrostic. Taking the first letter from each title and fitting them together backwards produces the Latin phrase "Ero cras" -- "Tomorrow I will come":


O Sapientia, quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

O Wisdom, who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end, ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come to lead us in the way of prudence.

"The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:2-3)


O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave the law on Sinai: come to redeem us with outstretched arm.

"With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." (Isaiah 11:4-5)


O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the people, before whom kings will shut their mouths, whom the Gentiles will seek: come to deliver us, do not delay.

"In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10)


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.

O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel; who opens and no one shuts; who shuts and no one opens: come and lead out the captive from the house of bondage, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

"I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." (Isaiah 22:22)


O Oriens, splendor lucis æternæ, et sol justitiæ: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Dayspring, Splendour of eternal light and Sun of justice: come and illumine those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)


O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations and their desire, who makes one out of the two: come and save man, whom You have formed from the dust.

"He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)


O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver, Desire of the nations and their Salvation: come to save us, O Lord our God.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)