Veni, Veni Emmanuel

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The verses of the advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” are a reworking of the “greater antiphons” traditionally sung during vespers during the seven evenings preceding Christmas eve. This evening would be the first of the seven. The “Suffering with Joy” blog has a nice description of some small-t traditions for this week and the “O Antiphon” for each day, with commentary.

Fr. Zuhlsdorf also has commentary and meditations on the antiphons which you may enjoy reading.

Friends in Christ, on this Ember Friday, may the Lord of All bless you and prepare you for his coming.
 
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O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom Who camest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come and teach us the way of prudence.
 
Thank you for these links. I just recently discovered Father Z, through The Ancoress blog, and www.divineoffice.org. Your banner is a beautiful enhancement to your post. God bless and Blessed Christmas.
 
Thanks, Patti. If you click on the musical notation above, a link hidden there will take you to youtube, where you can hear the student friars of the English Dominican Province chanting yesterday evening’s antiphon.

Here is tonight’s antiphon. Click on it to hear more chanting from the Dominican student brothers at Blackfriars in Oxford.

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O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and didst give unto him the law on Sinai: come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

Thoughts from “Suffering with Joy” on this evening’s antiphon
Thoughts from Fr. Z (his ‘O Antiphons’ pages include mp3 sound files of someone else chanting the antiphons)
 
The Dominican student brothers in Oxford chanting this evening’s antiphon:

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O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, Who standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.

“This antiphon, like the others, foreshadows the means by which salvation shall come …”
from the thoughts of Suffering with Joy.

“What urgency there is this antiphon…”
from the thoughts of Fr. Z.
 
Click to hear the Great antiphon for 20 December sung by the Dominican student brothers in Oxford:

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O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel! Who openest, and no man shutteth: Who shuttest, and no man openeth: come, and lead the captive from prison, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death

“Jesus is the key who opens the door…”
Meditation of Suffering with Joy

“What solace there is this antiphon. …”
Meditation of Fr. Zuhlsdorf

“O Jesus, Son of David! …”
Meditation of Dom Prosper Guéranger
 
Click to hear the Great antiphon for 21 December sung by the Dominican student brothers in Oxford:

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O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis.

O Dawn of the East, Brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of justice: come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

“*Oriens *means dawn, the sun rising in the east…”
Meditation of Suffering with Joy

“We are all desperately in need of a Savior…”
Meditation of Fr. Zuhlsdorf

“0 Jesus, divine Sun! …”
Meditation of Dom Prosper Guéranger
 
The Great antiphon for 22 December sung by the Dominican student brothers in Oxford:

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O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of them, Thou Corner-stone that makest both one: come and deliver man, whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

“Jesus comes to unite all Israel and the Gentiles into one body…”
Meditation of Suffering with Joy

Another recording and more references from Holy Scripture.

“O King of nations! Thou art approaching…”
Meditation of Dom Prosper Guéranger
 
The Great antiphon for 23 December sung by the Dominican student brothers in Oxford:

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O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their Savior: come to save us, O Lord our God.

“Emmanuel means ‘God with us’…”
Meditation of Suffering with Joy

Another recording and more references from Holy Scripture.

“O Emmanuel! King of peace! …”
Meditation of Dom Prosper Guéranger
 
Whether by chance or by careful design, the initial letters of the greater antiphons, when read backwards, spell out “Ero cras”, “I will be [with you] tomorrow”.

In various times and places, other antiphons were added to the original seven. Notably, in France and England, the antiphons were begun a day earlier, and this evening’s antiphon was addressed to our lady:

O Virgo virginum, quomodo fiet istud? Quia nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem. Filiae Ierusalem, quid me admiramini? Divinum est mysterium hoc quod cernitis.

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before you was any like you, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why do you marvel at me? What you behold is a divine mystery!

With this antiphon added, a new acrostic is created: “Vero crass”, “Truly, tomorrow.”

The eight Antiphons version remains in use in the Norbertine Order, and by some of the more traditional Anglicans, who, God willing, will soon be reunited to the Catholic Church.

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(In Spain, ‘O virgo virginum’ was chanted during vespers on December 18th, together with *‘O Adonaï’, *rather than this evening. The 18th was observed as a solemn feast with an octave, in honour of the Annunciation. You can read Dom Guéranger’s commentary on the feast of ‘the Expectation of the blessed Virgin’s delivery’ here).
 
Here is a Christmas eve responsory, sung by French Dominican brothers:
mycatholicvoice.com/media/y2puvK

R. Judaea et jerusalem nolite timere:
cras egrediemini, et Dominus erit vobiscum.
V. Constantes estote: videbitis auxilium Domini super vos,
cras egrediemini, et Dominus erit vobiscum.
V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto:
… et Dominus erit vobiscum.

R. Judah and Jerusalem, fear not
Tomorrow ye shall go forth, and the Lord shall be with you.
V. Be ye steadfast: ye shall see the help of the Lord;
Tomorrow ye shall go forth, and the Lord shall be with you.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
…and the Lord shall be with you.

Dom Prosper Guéranger’s Christmas Eve meditation
liturgialatina.org/lityear/advent/dec24.htm

Happy Christmas Eve!
 
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