O Adonai

The seven so-called "O Antiphons" (also known as the Greater or Major Antiphons) are sung at Vespers during the 8 days before Christmas Eve, a time known as the "Golden Nights."

Each antiphon begins with "O" and addresses Jesus with one of his titles which comes from the Prophets Isaiah and Micah. The titles' initials, when read backwards, are ERO CRAS. "Ero Cras" is Latin for "Tomorrow I come."

The titles for Christ are:

12/17: Sapientia (Wisdom)
12/18: Adonai (Lord of Israel)
12/19: Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
12/20: Clavis David (Key of David)
12/21: Oriens (Dawn)
12/22: Rex Gentium (King of the Gentiles)
12/23: Emmanuel (God is with us)

Here is today's antiphon:

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm! Click here to hear today's antiphon chanted as it will be at Vespers all over the world today.