We have entered into the liturgical time known as “Greater Advent,” this period (Dec 17-23) is always seven days before the vigil of Christmas. The daily mass readings are specially chosen to help us meditate on the coming of Jesus.

Unique to this time are the “O Antiphons“, which dates back to the seventh century and are compiled from Scriptural and Ecclesiastical sources.

They are chanted before Mary’s Magnificat each day at Evening Prayer and the Gospel Acclamation at mass.

The Latin titles, scriptural origins, and dates recites are as follows:

• Dec 17
  O Sapientia
  (Sir 24:1-3)
• Dec 18
  O Adonai
  (Ex:6-13)
• Dec 19
  O Radix Jesse
  (Is 11:10)
• Dec 20
  O Clavis David
  (Rev 3:7; Is 22:22)
• Dec 21
  O Oriens
  (Mal 3:20)
• Dec 22
  O Rex Gentium
  (Is 9:5-6)
• Dec 23
  O Emmanuel
  (Is 7:14 8:8)

Each day God’s people invokes the Lord to come and save them; most interesting is how He responds to us. For the initials of each Latin invocation written out in inverse order reveals the acrostic: ERO CRAS. It means “I shall be tomorrow.” The Eternal Word tells us, “I shall be (here) tomorrow,” and we, the church celebrate His Birth in Bethlehem the next day on Christmas!

Maranatha!

Come Lord Jesus!

Fr. Andrew FPO