One of the Elser family traditions that I fondly remember is constructing an Advent Wreath, decorating it with pinecones and other greenery, and all of us gathering around it every night of the Advent season, lighting the candles, singing "O Come O Come Emmanuel", saying the collect prayer from each Sunday of Advent, and then taking turns blowing out the candle or candles.
I assumed that this song was a song to be sung at home and at church throughout the Advent season. While this can be the case, the Church promotes it being sung in the most proximate days leading up to the Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (December 25) especially during evening prayer from December 17-23. The hymn has its origins over 1200 years ago in monastic life.
Each of the verses refers to a Messianic title for Christ, using biblical imagery drawn from the Old Testament to recall the whole of salvation history and anticipate the birth of Christ. They express the longing we feel for the coming of the Messiah--at Christmas, anew in our hearts, AND at the end of time when he comes in glory. The messianic titles in Latin and English, and the days in which these titles are proclaimed in song are: December 17--O Sapientia (O Wisdom), December 18--O Adonai (O Lord), December 19--O Radix Jesse (O root of Jesse), December 20--O Clavis David (O Key of David), December 21--O Oriens (O Light from the East), December 22--O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) , and December 23--O Emmanuel (O God with Us).
The verses of the song "O Come O Come Emmanuel" are variations on these antiphons. The verse that begins "O Come Thou Dayspring" is a reference to Oriens (O Light from the East) and the verse which begins "O Come, Desire of Nations" refers to O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations).
There is even a hidden message in the first letters of each antiphon--beginning with "E" for Emmanuel and working backwards, the first letter of each antiphon can be assembled to spell the phrase "ero cras" which is Latin for "tomorrow I come" a reference to the fact that the next day is Christmas Eve. Of all the hymns that we are blessed to have and sing in the Advent and Christmas seasons, you now know which has the longest history behind it and appreciate the fact that I choose for us to wait until the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) to start singing this song at Mass, as the refrain calls us to REJOICE. From that Sunday through the rest of Advent our focus is on preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation, when the Son of God was born into our world!
(I want to thank Deacon Gary for inspiring me to write this pastor's column and providing much of the information I used in composing it)
I assumed that this song was a song to be sung at home and at church throughout the Advent season. While this can be the case, the Church promotes it being sung in the most proximate days leading up to the Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (December 25) especially during evening prayer from December 17-23. The hymn has its origins over 1200 years ago in monastic life.
Each of the verses refers to a Messianic title for Christ, using biblical imagery drawn from the Old Testament to recall the whole of salvation history and anticipate the birth of Christ. They express the longing we feel for the coming of the Messiah--at Christmas, anew in our hearts, AND at the end of time when he comes in glory. The messianic titles in Latin and English, and the days in which these titles are proclaimed in song are: December 17--O Sapientia (O Wisdom), December 18--O Adonai (O Lord), December 19--O Radix Jesse (O root of Jesse), December 20--O Clavis David (O Key of David), December 21--O Oriens (O Light from the East), December 22--O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) , and December 23--O Emmanuel (O God with Us).
The verses of the song "O Come O Come Emmanuel" are variations on these antiphons. The verse that begins "O Come Thou Dayspring" is a reference to Oriens (O Light from the East) and the verse which begins "O Come, Desire of Nations" refers to O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations).
There is even a hidden message in the first letters of each antiphon--beginning with "E" for Emmanuel and working backwards, the first letter of each antiphon can be assembled to spell the phrase "ero cras" which is Latin for "tomorrow I come" a reference to the fact that the next day is Christmas Eve. Of all the hymns that we are blessed to have and sing in the Advent and Christmas seasons, you now know which has the longest history behind it and appreciate the fact that I choose for us to wait until the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) to start singing this song at Mass, as the refrain calls us to REJOICE. From that Sunday through the rest of Advent our focus is on preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation, when the Son of God was born into our world!
(I want to thank Deacon Gary for inspiring me to write this pastor's column and providing much of the information I used in composing it)