We have now entered into the final days of Advent and sing the “O Aniphons” at Vespers each evening, from December 17th until December 23rd.
These biblically-inspired Antiphons are texts chanted at Vespers just before the Magnificat, the Gospel Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), and are prayers which proclaim some of the various names that God has been know by throughout the ages:
Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Orient from on High, King of Nations, Emmanuel.
Each “name” of God is preceded by the exclamation: “O,” hence their all being called the “O Antiphons.”
The popular Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is an adaptation of the O Antiphons, using an ancient Gregorian chant melody.