“O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Salvation : Come and save us, O Lord our God.”

• December 23: O Emmanuel
  
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

“O King of the Nations, and their Desire, the Cornerstone who makest both one : Come and save mankind, whom thou formedst of clay.”

• December 22: O King of the Nations
  
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

“O Dayspring, Brightness of Light Everlasting, and Sun of Righteousness : Come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”

• December 21: O Dayspring
  
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

“O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openest and no man shutteth, that shuttest and no man openeth : Come and bring the prisoners out of the prison-house, them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death.”

• December 20: O Key of David
  
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

“O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall seek : Come and deliver us, and tarry not.”

• December 19: O Root of Jesse
  
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

“O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst in the bush to Moses in a flame of fire, and gavest him the Law in Sinai : Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.”

• December 18: O Adonai
• The Magnificat

*Chanted by Pr. Sean Daenzer to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. Read the introductory post about O Antiphons here.

The O Antiphons are historic antiphons designated for the Magnificat, which is the traditional canticle for Vespers. There are seven O Antiphons, sung on the seven
Vespers leading up to December 24th:

• December 17: O Wisdom
• December 18: O Adonai
• December 19: O Root of Jesse
• December 20: O Key of David
• December 21: O Dayspring
• December 22: O King of the Nations
• December 23: O Emmanuel

The name of each antiphon is derived from Old Testament titles given to the Messiah. In fact, the hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” is a lyrical version of these antiphons. Read more about the history and development of O Antiphons here.

Pr. Sean Daenzer has recorded the Antiphons sung to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397. The order for singing this Vespers canticle is Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon.

“O Wisdom, which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to another, mightily and sweetly ordering all things : Come and teach us the way of prudence.”

• December 17: O Wisdom
• The Magnificat