“The O’s of Advent”

 
“The Church enters to-day [December 17] on the seven days which precede the Vigil of Christmas, and which are known in the liturgy under the name of the Greater Ferias [a feria is a day on the Church calendar in which there is no feast day]. The ordinary of the Advent Office becomes more solemn; the antiphons of the psalms, both for Lauds and the Hours of the day, are proper, and allude expressly to the great coming. Every day, at Vespers, is sung a solemn antiphon, consisting of a fervent prayer to the Messiah, who it addresses by one of the titles given Him in sacred Scriptures. In the Roman Church, there are seven of these antiphons, one for each of the greater ferias. They are commonly called the O’s of Advent because they all begin with that interjection.”[i]
 
The birth of Christ is so important that we prepare four weeks for the event, an event which is literally the center of history. We mark our calendars by the date of Christ’s birth. No other human, no matter how proud or arrogant, would expect people to prepare four weeks for their birthday. We enjoy that people acknowledge the day of our birth by sending cards, throwing parties or posting Facebook messages, but we do not expect people to prepare for our birthday.
 
How is the preparation symbolized in our home and churches? The Church’s four weeks of preparation are symbolized in our homes and in our churches by the four candles of the advent wreath.
 
VIDEO – What is an advent wreath?
 
What do the candles represent in an advent wreath? The candles each represent a 1000 year period prior to the birth of Christ, a total of 4000 years that the world yearned for its Savior. These candles also represent themes throughout salvation history. “The first candle represents God’s forgiveness to Adam and Eve; the second reminds us of the patriarchs, the people in the old times who believed in God’s promise to send a savior; the third candle expresses the joy of King David in the covenant made between God and his people. The last candle represents the teachings of the prophets, God’s speakers who announce peace and justice to the human family.”[ii]
 
Search: Advent Wreaths
 
Not only does the Church prepare four weeks (Advent) for the birth of Jesus, but the church asks us to have a time of intense preparation for the seven days prior to Christmas Eve. It is during these seven days (Dec. 17 to 23) that we meditate on the person of Christ as proclaimed and prophesized in sacred scripture.
 
The Church gives us the “O” antiphons as a meditation.
 
What is the best way to prepare using the “O” antiphons? The best way to prepare using the “O” antiphons is to pray Vespers (Evening Prayer) each night from Dec. 17-23. It is on these days during the Antiphon of the Magnificat that the Church asks us to meditate on Christ. If we are unable to pray Vespers each day, we can at the very least say or sing the antiphon privately or in common. For a family this could take place during a common meal or in the morning before starting the day. If we meditate on Christ for these seven days we will be better able to receive the Christ Child, whom we have meditated upon.
 
This packet includes lesson on each of the seven Antiphons and places one of the seven virtues as well as one of the seven sacraments along with the Antiphon for reflection. Please note that the Antiphon is given in three ways. First, the traditional antiphon. Second, the antiphon as it is in the Liturgy of the Hours and finally the antiphon as it is found in the Hymn  "O Come O Come Emmauel". Each lesson also includes a reflection on the O Antiphon as given by Abbot Gueranger, OSB in the text The Liturgical Year.
 
ACTIVITY – The “O” Chart
It would be good to begin with the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Many people may be tired of hearing this hymn by the time the third Sunday of Advent comes around, but do they know the meaning; Can that meaning renew a deeper devotion and love for the text and thus our Lord? After singing the hymn write the antiphons on the left hand side of a chart (seven rows by three columns). After listing the antiphons have the group match the virtue and sacrament with the antiphon based on the lyrics they just sang. The lessons in this packet serve not only as the answer to the chart but explanation as well.

 
The Sacraments are in somewhat of a chronological order as we progress toward the Feast of the Nativity. Marriage is the first of Sacraments to be instituted. It was given by God to man in the Garden and ensures that we will have physical life. The Levitical Priesthood was instituted in the Old Testament and then fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who ordained the apostles priests at the Last Supper. The Sacrament of Holy Orders ensures that we will have spiritual life. Baptism is the gateway into all Sacraments and is necessary for salvation. We will likely commit personal sins after Baptism, Reconciliation is like a second Baptism; washing away our personal sin and restoring the state of Grace in our soul. Anointing of the Sick is the second of the healing Sacraments and although typically given at the end of life, it can be used throughout life when we are in special need of healing such as sickness or before a surgery.
 
As we live our Christian Life we need strength to resist sin, avoid evil, pursue good, and be a witness for Christ. Confirmation is this gift of strength, which allows us to answer with dignity, in our thoughts, words, and deeds our call to holiness as a Christian. Without the gift of the Holy Spirit we would not be able to endure and bear fruit. Finally the “King of all Sacraments”, the crown, which we call the Blessed Sacrament, is in fact what we are given when the Word becomes flesh. The Word becomes flesh, not just in the Christ child, but that holy child would live, die, and rise again leaving with us His body, blood, soul, and divinity in the most holy Eucharist. It is in the Mass that the Liturgy of the Word becomes or moves into the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
 

---

[i] Abbot Gueranger, OSB; The Liturgical Year; Advent
[ii] MaginifiKid! – Vol.10, Part I, Section 2