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The
Advent Antiphons
Addresses given by Fr. Andrew during Advent 2008
(during the Wednesday evening Eucharists)
At the 6.30pm Eucharist on Wednesdays in Advent, Father Andrew Wadsworth
leads a series of addresses to focus on the impending Christmas season. It gives
us an opportunity to look beyond the Christmas shopping and Office party, but to
make sure there is a place for the Christ child to dwell in us.
This year, Father Andrew is leading two sessions on the Advent Antiphons
which are liturgically set before and after the Magnificat between the 16th and
23rd December. Each antiphon refers to an image of the person of Jesus.
In the first session, Father Andrew looks at the first four images and in the
second session, the last four images. The images are pertinent for our time as
they still speak to us over 2,000 years after they were introduced among the
first Christian people.
Below is a copy of the Antiphons and also, at the very bottom, links to the
podcasts of the addresses, which we hope you may find useful as we make our
Christian pilgrimage journey afresh to the news of the birth of God’s Son.
December 17: O Sapientia (Wisdom)
O
Wisdom. You came forth from the mouth of the Most High and reaching from
beginning
to end, You ordered all
things mightily and sweetly. Come and teach us the way of prudence!
December 18: O Adonai
(Lord)
O
Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the burning bush
and on
Mount Sinai gave him
Your Law. Come and with outstretched arm redeem us!
December 19: O Radix
Jesse (Root of Jesse)
O
Root of Jesse, You stand for an ensign of mankind; before You kings shall keep
silence,
and to You all nations
shall have recourse. Come, save us and do not delay!
December 20: O Clavis
David (Key of David)
O
Key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, You open and no man closes;
You close
and no man opens. Come
and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death!
December 21: O Oriens
(Orient)
O
Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice; come and
enlighten those
who sit in darkness and
in the shadow of death!
December 22: O Rex
Gentium (King of the Gentiles)
O
King of Nations and Desired of All, You are the cornerstone that binds two into
one.
Come, and save poor man
whom You fashioned out of clay!
December 23: O Emmanuel
(God with us)
O
Emmanuel, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of nations and their
Saviour; come and save us, O Lord our
God!
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