O, Wisdom

Praying the O Antiphons, December 17

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit....

You may wish to pray the rosary, the divine office, or some other opening prayer. It is suggested to create an environment of prayer appropriate to your circumstance. Lighting the advent wreathe, soft music, or some other form of highlighting that something special is happening. 

A reading from the book Isaiah 11:2-3

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. 

Magnificat

Antiphon: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God you govern all creation with your strong, yet gentle, care come and show your people the way to salvation. 

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter sauviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.  

(Lk 1:46-55)

Antiphon: O Wisdom, O holy Word of God you govern all creation with your strong, yet gentle, care come and show your people the way to salvation. 

Closing Hymn:
You may wish to complete your advent calendar or Jesse tree while singing this hymn. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel,

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

R: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel,

shall come to thee o Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,

and order all things far and nigh;

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go. R.