The final days of Advent

The "O" Antiphons of Advent

December 17 - O Wisdom, (O Sapientia) Who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, COME, and teach us the way of salvation.

December 18 - O Lord of Lords, (O Adonai) and Leader of the house of Israel, COME, and with outstretched arms redeem us.

December 19 - O Root of Jesse, (O Radix Jesse) Who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall pray, COME, to deliver us and delay not.

December 20 - O Key of David, (O Clavis David) and Scepter of the House of Israel, COME, and bring forth from his prison the captive that sitteth in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 21 - O Dawn of the East, (O Oriens) Brightness of the light eternal, COME, and enlighten them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22 - O King of the Gentiles, (O Rex Gentium) and the desired of them, COME, and deliver man whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

December 23 - O Emmanuel, (O Emmanuel) God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of all the nations, COME, and save us, O Lord our God."


Each night from December 17 through December 23, after Compline, we process with an image of the Infant Jesus from the Chapel to the Friar's cell who is having his Day of Recollection on the following day. Singing the "O" Antiphon of the day and carrying lighted candles, we make our way through the monastery, asking Jesus to COME!