Today the Church’s Advent prayer takes a sharp turn toward Christmas.  The texts of the Divine Office and Mass now point us directly to the mystery of the Nativity. The Gospel readings we’ll hear over the next week are especially worth noting in this regard.  Listen well to them.  Pray with them.  Through them, draw near to Mary and Joseph as they travel to Bethlehem.

Every year around this time, the Church’s “O Antiphons” receive a lot of attention. We begin using them this evening.  Include these, too, in your prayer.  Each calls out to Christ according to one of his Messianic titles.  All together the antiphons summarize the content of Israel’s waiting for the Messiah, as well as the wonders wrought by his birth.

For a brief history and listing of the O Antiphons, click here.

In 2006, the student brothers of the English Province recorded their singing of the O Antiphons to the traditional Dominican tones.  Over the next week, I’ll post each of their videos on the appropriate day.  First up, “O Sapientia.”

O Sapientia,
quæ ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiæ.

O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

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