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The Brotherhood Prayer Book: O Antiphons
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. Seven years ago, we asked Pr. Sean Daenzer to record these Antiphons sung to the Gregorian tones in The Brotherhood Prayer Book, beginning on page 397, along with the Magnificat. We’re posting them again this year with links to each one.
- 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 order for singing this Vespers canticle is 
Antiphon, Magnificat, Antiphon. 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.
These Christmas cards remain…
After an avalanche of Christmas card orders, these are the designs
that we still have in stock. Have a closer look, see the inside, and find
purchase information on our Christmas cards page.
Gottesdienst Crowd discusses The Brotherhood Prayer Book
Why pray the Psalms, and why should they form the center of the Christian’s life of prayer? Why use Gregorian chant and how do you learn it? Why have a book for prayer at all? Join Pr. Jason Braaten (of Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy) and Pr. Michael Frese (of Redeemer Lutheran Church-Fort Wayne and Emmanuel Press) in this podcast which answers these questions and also discusses what led to the creation of The Brotherhood Prayer Book.
The Word Remains: All Saints’ Day
“Therefore, take comfort: it is not all over for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord! They are merely sleeping. He who by His own death-sleep in the grave sanctified our graves as mere bedrooms stands even now at the deathbed, calling, ‘Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden!’ And when He lays them in the dust of death, He says, ‘I will give you rest!’ and ‘Here you will find rest.’ And if death is sleep, then each of the dead has the hope of resurrection.”
-an excerpt from The Word Remains: Selected Writings on the Church Year and the Christian Life by Wilhelm Löhe
Introducing…New Christ-centered Christmas cards
We are pleased to introduce two new Christmas cards this year! This brings the total to 11 designs exclusive to Emmanuel Press.
The first card, Savior (right), shows the infant Christ standing on the lap of the Virgin Mary, who gently receives her child’s embrace. We see St. Joseph through the archway. 
This 17th-century painting by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato is a tender portrayal of the bond between mother and son. Yet this Son is the Savior of the world, as is echoed in the inside greeting: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
The second card, Nativity Triptych (below), is an update of a previous design, now featuring a festive but subtly textured background. This beautiful nativity scene comes from a Russian triptych in our own collection. A triptych is divided into three panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. The angels in the side panels are identified in Russian as Michael and Gabriel, while the text in the middle declares “the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (There is a note on the back of the card with this translation.) The greeting inside proclaims, “Glory to the newborn King!” which comes from the refrain of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Visit our Christmas card page to create a custom assortment of Christmas cards. Choose from a variety of styles, including stained glass, illumination, triptych, classic art, and original commissioned pieces.
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