During the final days approaching the great feast of Christmas – of God’s dwelling among us as one of us – our time and attention often become distracted and fragmented at best. The multiple aspects of holiday preparation can descend upon us as an intimidating army of chores to be accomplished, duties to be fulfilled. We can so easily lose focus on the true meaning behind all the gift-wrapping and cookie-baking.

It is exactly during those final, frantic days, though, that our Church offers us an opportunity to slow the pace, calm our rattled nerves, and spend a few extra peaceful moments in prayer. It’s as if Mother Church knows how badly we need a quiet break from all the holiday-induced craziness, and a return to its primary focus: Jesus, the reason for the season.

The Church provides a set of seven tiny gems of spiritual significance in the form of what are termed the “O” Antiphons (an antiphon being a brief verse recited or sung during a liturgy or private or communal prayer). Termed the “O” Antiphons simply because each one begins with “O,” they are prayed typically during the Liturgy of the Hours Evening Prayer from December 17th through the 23rd and have been a tradition of our Church since its early days.

Hearkening back to the Messianic prophesies of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, each of the antiphons begins with a different title for the Messiah and ends with the heartfelt plea of His expectant people – “Come!”

An interesting aspect of these mini-prayers is that if the titles are read in reverse order in their Latin form (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, and Sapientia), they form the Latin words ero cras; in English, “Tomorrow, I will come.” The Messiah is promising us that on that most holy night of nights, He will come. Indeed, He will come.

The “O” Antiphons are listed below in all their beauty and stirring sense of promise. Surely, they are worth a few quiet moments of slowing down, breathing deeply, stepping back from all the pre-holiday activities that can so easily consume us and take us off the proper spiritual track, so to speak.

Maybe this year, we can begin a new tradition, for ourselves personally, but also within our family circles. We can gather together for just a few moments on those special evenings, perhaps around the Advent wreath at dinnertime, and focus on the seven tiny gems that remind us so beautifully just Who it is we’re preparing to welcome.

Come, Lord Jesus!

December 17: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

December 18: O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Mount Sinai: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

December 19: O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

December 20: O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.

December 21: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

December 22: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

December 23: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nation, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.

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