When I’m out shopping in mid-November, and I hear the strains of “Silver Bells” and “The Little Drummer Boy” wafting from hidden store speakers, I just want to cover my ears. The ever-present repetition of Christmas carols often serves to point out that the rest of the world is celebrating Christmas, while we’re still in the season of Advent.
For me, the one exception to this audio barrage is a simple chant for Advent, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” This song, with its longing for the coming of the Savior, genuinely belongs to Advent and not to Christmas. Its melody is based on Gregorian chant, and its verses are all taken from the Church’s “O antiphons.” These antiphons introduce the Magnificat, or Canticle of Mary, in the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours from December 17 through December 23. Each antiphon begins with a traditional title for Christ. They are: “O Wisdom,” “O Leader of the House of Israel [Adonai],” “O Root of Jesse’s Stem,” “O Key of David,” “O Radiant Dawn,” “O King of all the nations,” and finally, “O Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” Each of these traditional titles for the Messiah connects the coming of Christ with the prophetic writings of the Old Testament.
In some Catholic parishes, the Sunday liturgies during Advent feature the tune of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” as the setting for the Sanctus, the Great Amen and other sung parts of the Mass. While it’s asking a lot for this simple tune to bear so much repetition for four weeks, this setting does anchor us firmly in the longing and anticipation of Advent. The original hymn, with its pleading for Christ’s coming, serves as a welcome antidote to the onslaught of bad commercial Christmas music that we have to endure every November and December. It also connects us to the Evening Prayer of the whole Church in the last week of Advent.
The “O Antiphons” of Advent
On the last days of Advent, you may wish to add these “O Antiphons” to your evening prayer, your prayer at table, or your bedtime prayer.
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!
Father Rice is Vocations Director for the Paulist Fathers.
Excerpted from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition. Copyright © 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.