An Ave Maria Meditations encore:
THE GREAT ANTIPHONS
The following great Antiphons are said entire before and after the Magnificat,
from the 17th to the 23rd of December, inclusive.
Antiphon for the 17th of December :
O SAPIENTlA, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
O WISDOM that comes out of the mouth of the Most High, that reaches from one end to another, and dost mightily and sweetly order all things: come to teach us the way of prudence!
Antiphon for the 18th of December :
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.
O ADONAI, and Ruler of the house of Israel, who did appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law in Sinai: come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
Antiphon for the 19th of December :
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, which stands for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, whom the Gentiles shall seek: come to deliver us, make no tarrying.
Antiphon for the 20th of December :
O CLA VIS 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 Scepter of the house of Israel; that opens and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens: come to bring out the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
Antiphon for the 21st of December :
O ORIENS, splendor lucis aetemae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes is tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O DAYSPRING, Brightness of the everlasting light, Sun of Justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Antiphon for the 22nd of December :
O REX Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O KING of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof; 0 Cornerstone, that makes of two one: come to save man, whom Thou hast made of the dust of the earth!
Antiphon for the 23rd of December:
O EMMANUEL, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
O EMMANUEL, our King and our Lawgiver, Longing of the Gentiles; yea, and salvation thereof: come to save us, 0 Lord our God!
