Welcome, and thank you for praying the O Antiphons of Advent with us. The Roman Church has been singing the O Antiphons since at least the 8th century. The O Antiphons accompany the Magnificat Canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17th through the 23rd. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient Biblical imagery drawn from the Messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment of not only the Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well.
Their repeated use of the imperative, come, embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah. The Antiphon will first be read in English and then sung in Latin by the Skola from St. Mary Seminary. Today's Antiphon comes from the Evening Prayer for December 18th.
O leader of the House of Israel, giver of the law to Moses on Sinai. And to rescue us with your mighty power.