'O Come, O Come, Emmamuel.........'

In the Church's liturgy, specia1 sung prayers known as 'antiphons' have played a part in the preparation for Christmas since the Middle Ages. They are known as the great 'O' antiphons because each one of them begins with an 'O'. The singing of these antiphons was a very solemn affair in cathedrals and monasteries, and they are preserved today as Magnificat Antiphons in the Evening Prayer of the Church, and as Gospel Acclamations in the mass. They remind us of the two comings that give Advent its basic theme.

They begin on the 17 December with the ancient Old Testament titles of the coming Messiah - the first addresses the Word of God as 'O Wisdom', the second title links with Moses, 'O Adonai (Lord of Lords); the third refers to Jesse, who was the father of David, and of course Jesus was of the House of David, and born in David's town of Bethlehem: 'O stock of Jesse'.

The next antiphon uses the title 'O Key of David' and refers to the kingly authority associated with David. The next one, 'O Rising Sun', speaks of the coming Messiah as the Light of the world. The antiphon for 22 December: 'O King whom all the peoples desire', stresses that the Messiah is not for the Jews alone, but the whole human race. The final antiphon: 'O Immanuel', uses the very special title which describes most exactly the role of the expected Messiah, he is 'God with us'.

The 'coming' period. of the season of Advent comes to a beautiful culmination with these payers rooted in scriptures, all of which end with an appeal for the Christ to 'come'. They could very well form the basis for a family prayer in the final week leading up to Christmas.