O Antiphon, O Christmas

Last Evening's service of Lessons and Carols of Advent at Holy Cross Lutheran Church filled my heart, as did being in the presence of friends.

We sat beside the beautiful cantor who sang the seven Antiphons. Her crystal clear voice poured into our ears and into our hearts, as we responded with the seven hymn stanzas of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

The seven titles attributed to Jesus in the antiphons are Wisdom (Sapientia in Latin), Ruler of the House of Israel (Adonai), Root of Jesse (Radix), Key of David (Clavis), Rising Dawn (Oriens), King of the Gentiles (Rex). and Emmanuel. In Latin the initials of the titles make an acrostic which, when read backwards. means: "Tomorrow I will be there" ("Ero cras"). To the medieval mind this was clearly a reference to the approaching Christmas vigil.

The Fifth Antiphon refers to the Rising Dawn: "O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness in the shadow of death."