Liturgy Nook / Free guides
The O Antiphons: dates, meanings and a home idea for each day
In the last seven days before Christmas Eve, the Church sings a special antiphon at Evening Prayer before the Magnificat. Each one calls on Christ by a title from the Old Testament and ends with a plea for him to come.
If you know the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, you already know them: its verses are based on the O Antiphons.
Free printable: the O Antiphons, 17 to 23 December
| Date | Latin | English | Scripture | At home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec | O Sapientia | O Wisdom | Isaiah 11:2-3; Isaiah 28:29 | Light a candle by an open Bible. Ask each person what they need wisdom for. |
| 18 Dec | O Adonai | O Lord and Ruler of Israel | Exodus 3:1-6; Isaiah 33:22 | Read about the burning bush. Draw a flame and add it to the tree. |
| 19 Dec | O Radix Jesse | O Root of Jesse | Isaiah 11:1, 10 | Look at your Jesse Tree together and name the people on it. |
| 20 Dec | O Clavis David | O Key of David | Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7 | Hang a key on the tree. Pray for anyone who feels stuck or trapped. |
| 21 Dec | O Oriens | O Rising Dawn | Malachi 3:20 (4:2 in some Bibles); Luke 1:78-79 | Watch the sunrise or eat breakfast by candlelight. |
| 22 Dec | O Rex Gentium | O King of the Nations | Isaiah 2:4; Ephesians 2:14 | Pray for a different country at each meal today. |
| 23 Dec | O Emmanuel | O God with us | Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23 | Read the seven titles in reverse order and find the hidden words. |
The hidden message: ERO CRAS
Take the first letter of each Latin title after the “O”: Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, Emmanuel. Read them backwards and you get ERO CRAS, Latin for “Tomorrow I will be there.” On 23 December, the day before Christmas Eve, the words fit well.
Keeping them at home
- Sing one verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” each evening, matching the day’s title.
- Write the day’s title on a card and put it by the Advent wreath.
- Read the Scripture reference at dinner and ask what the title says about Jesus.
- On 23 December, line the cards up and find ERO CRAS together.