O Sapientia
The Advent Antiphons With Scripture references and paraphrases. By A.C.A. Hall, Bishop of Vermont
The Advent Antiphons
In the Kalendar of the Prayer-book, under December 16 are to be found the words “O Sapientia.” The last days of Advent are given a special solemnity by having assigned to them special Antiphons (or Anthems), which are sung before and after the Magnificat at Evensong. They all begin in a similar way with the word “O,” and are therefore popularly known as “the Great O’s.” In these Antiphons, we address our Lord day by day by some of the titles of the holy Scriptures.
The first Antiphon (“O Sapientia,” that is, “O Wisdom”) calls him by an Old Testament title that prepared the way for the understanding that he is the Word of God, through whom the world was made. So each day we address him by a special title: Adonai (the Hebrew word for “Lord”); Root of Jesse; Key of David; Day-spring; King of the nations; Emmanuel; and plead with him to come and deliver and enlighten us.
Only those who attend Evensong daily hear these Antiphons sung, but they are very well-known in another form, since they have been used as the basis of what is perhaps the most popular of Advent hymns, “O come, O come, Emmanuel.”
O SAPIENTIA
O Wisdom, Which camest forth out of the mouth of the Most High, and reachest from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Lord Jesu Christ, who art the very Wisdom of God most high,
by whom He made the world, impressing on His creation
the reflexion of His own power and goodness;
Who dost uphold the world in its being and harmony,
as Thou reachest from one end to the other
mightily and sweetly ordering all things;
Who didst visit God's prophets and servants of old,
giving them ever fuller knowledge of His mind and will;
Thou in the fulness of time didst come forth in the incarnation,
clothing Thyself in our nature and living amidst our conditions,
to teach us the way of prudence—
how to use the complex nature Thou hadst framed,
how to escape the snares and temptations by which we are surrounded,
how to attain the blessedness which Thou hast prepared for us.
Blessed be Thy Name for Thy teaching by word and by example,
for the testimony of Thine Apostles and the record of the Scriptures,
for the continual guidance of Thy Spirit and the witness of Thy Saints.
Come now, we pray Thee, by Thy grace
to Thy Church and people,
and teach us in our day and need
the way of prudence—
how best to promote Thy Father's glory,
and extend Thy kingdom,
and win our perfect life,
as we so pass through things temporal
as not to lose the things eternal.