What are the great O antiphons?

The O antiphons are short songs that all begin with the Celtic exclamation “O”.

How many O antiphons are there?

The number of these antiphons is seven in the Roman Church, one for each of the seven major Days or “feries”, and they are all addressed to Jesus Christ. Other Churches in the Middle Ages added two more: one to the Blessed Virgin, O Virgo Virginum! and one to the Angel Gabriel, O Gabriel! or even to Saint Thomas, whose feast falls during the major holidays. The latter begins as follows: O Thomas Didyme!

There were even Churches which brought to twelve the number of the great Antiphones, adding to the nine of which we have just spoken, three others, namely: one to Christ, O Rex pacifice! a second to the Blessed Virgin, O mundi Domina! and finally a final apostrophe to Jerusalem, O Hierusalem!

When do we sing the O antiphons?

From December 17 to 23 and more precisely, the moment chosen to make this sublime appeal to the charity of the Son of God heard, is the hour of Vespers, because it is on the Evening of the world that the Messiah has come.

They are sung at Magnificat, to mark that the Savior we are waiting for will come to us through Mary. They are sung twice, before and after the Canticle as a sign of greater solemnity;

Why sing these antiphons?

These admirable Antiphones, which contain all the marrow of the Advent Liturgy, are adorned with a song full of gravity and melody; and the various Churches have retained the custom of accompanying them with a very special pomp, whose always expressive demonstrations vary from place to place.

Let us enter into the spirit of the Church and collect ourselves, in order to unite ourselves, in all the fullness of our heart, to the holy Church, when she makes her Bridegroom hear these last and tender invitations, to which he goes. finally.

To discover more of the Antiphones, we invite you to follow the series of cards and videos.