O Antiphons

For those who have ever prayed the daily Divine Office of the church--Opus Dei--you know that today is the beginning of the week of the beautiful O Antiphons said during Vespers. I believe they also appear in one of the prayers of weekday Masses this week. There are many translations of these names of God...here's just one:

December 17: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

December 18: O sacred God of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

December 19: O Flower of Jesse's stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples: kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

December 20: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

December 21: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of humankind, Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

December 23: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people; Come and set us free, Lord our God.

A few years ago a small schola of the community recorded the O Antiphons to music written by our Sr. Mary David. You can hear them online this week at Benetvision.

An extra: our Sr. Ellen Porter, who is the final stage of metastasized breast cancer, is a marvelous writer. Starting today and every Monday hereafter, seven of her poems will be posted on a new site, Ellen's Poems. Give it a try, I think you'll like her thoughts as much as we do.