O Sapientia – O Wisdom: The Great O’ Antiphon for December 17

Today begins the Great O Antiphons of Advent. The Antiphons are Magnificat Antiphon used during Vespers on the last seven days of Advent. Each Antiphon is a name for Christ and they fulfill prophecies from Isaiah.

The O Antiphons are often written in Latin and English. Both versions are available for your enjoyment.

Today’s Antiphons is:

O Sapientia  – O Wisdom

Latin:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,

attingens a fine usque ad finem,

fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:

veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.^[8]

English:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,

reaching from one end to the other,

mightily and sweetly ordering all things:

Come and teach us the way of prudence.

The prophecies in Isaiah are:

• “The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”Isaiah 11:2-3
• “[…] he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.”  Isaiah 28:29

The symbols used for this O Antiphon are a scroll and a lamp. Wisdom comes from reading God’s word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Enjoy speaking, praying or singing the Antiphons each evening as we prepare our hearts and minds for the Birth of our Savior on Christmas Day.

Soli Deo Gloria

The O Antiphon banners are part of the City of David Advent Collection found at Ecclesiastical Sewing.