Expection of Our Lady

This is the last week of Advent and the Church uses special antiphons to help us prepare with Our Lady for the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Below is an article explaining this. Here are the specific antiphons called the "O Antiphons".

These antiphons, called the "Greater Antiphons" or the "O Antiphons," are the following: 

(Dec. 18th) Antiphon 1: O Wisdom! Thou came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, Thou ordered all things mightily and sweetly. Come, and teach us the way of prudence. 

(Dec. 19th) Antiphon 2: O Adonai, Ruler of the House of Israel! Thou appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him Thy law. Come to redeem us with the strength of Thy arm. 

(Dec. 20th) Antiphon 3: O Root of Jesse! Thou stand as a sign for all peoples; before Thee kings shall keep silence and to Thee all nations shall have recourse. Come, save us, and do not delay. 

(Dec. 21st) Antiphon 4: O Key of David, Scepter of the House of Israel! Thou doth open and no man closes; Thou doth close and no man opens. Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. 

(Dec. 22nd) Antiphon 5: O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice! Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. 

(Dec. 23rd) Antiphon 6: O King of the Gentile, the Awaited One of all! Thou are the cornerstone that binds two into one. Come, and save man whom Thou fashioned out of clay. 

(Dec. 24th) Antiphon 7: O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Hope and Salvation of the nations! Come and save us, O Lord our God. 

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Our Lady of the Expection by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira