Advent Antiphons

1. NE irascáris Dómine, ne ultra memíneris iniquitátis:

ecce cívitas Sancti facta est desérta:

Síon desérta fácta est: Jerúsalem desoláta est:

domus sanctificatiónis túae et glóriae túae,

ubi laudavérunt te pátres nóstri.

+ Rorate.

1. Do not be angry, O Lord, at our iniquities.

Behold the city of your Holy Ones is deserted:

Sion is deserted, Jerusalem now is desolate:

The house of your blessing and your glory,

where our fathers praised you. (Is 64:9-11)

+ Rorate.

2. Peccávimus, et fácti súmus tamquam immúndus nos,

et cecídimus quasi folium univérsi:

et iniquitátes nóstrae quasi véntus abstulérunt nos:

abscondísti fáciem túam a nóbis,

et allisísti nos in mánu iniquitátis nostrae.

+ Rorate.

2. We have sinned and become like some loathsome thing,

And we fall like all the leaves,

And our iniquities blow us about as the wind:

You have hidden your face from us,

And struck us with the hand of our iniquity. (Is 64:6-7)

+ Rorate.

3· Víde Dómine afflictiónem pópuli túi,

et mítte quem missurus es :

emítte Agnum dominatórem térrae,

de Pétra desérti ad montem fíliae Sion:

ut áuferat ipse jugum captivitatis nostrae.

+ Rorate.

3. See, O Lord, the affliction of your people,

And send The One whom You will send,

send forth the Lamb, ruler of the earth

From the rock in the desert to the mount of your daughter Sion, (Is 61:1)

So that he will remove the yoke of our captivity.(cf Is 10:27; cf Is 14:25)

+ Rorate.

4· Consolamini, consolamini, popule méus:

cito véniet sálus túa:

quare maeróre consúmeris, quia innovávit te dolor?

Salvábo te, nóli timére, égo enim sum Dominus Déus tuus,

Sanctus Israel, Redémptor tuus.

+ Rorate.

4. Be consoled, be consoled, my people: (Is. 40:1)

I will send your salvation quickly. (cf Is. 62:11)

Why are you consumed with grief, why renew your pain?

I will save you, do not be afraid, for I am the Lord your God,

The Holy One of Israel and your Redeemer
(cf Is. 41:14)

+ Rorate.

The “Great Antiphons,” or “O Antiphons”, are sung at the Magnificat at Vespers, and may be used as the Alleluia verse at mass, one each day, from December 17 to 23. Each Antiphon invokes the coming Messiah, employing one of His many biblical titles, and closes with a proper petition. The authors are unknown. They date from the ninth century or earlier; and have been deliberately arranged so that the first letter of each title, viewed as it were from Christmas Eve, spell out the phrase: Ero Cras – I come tomorrow!

Antiphonæ Majores ad Magnificat, Die 17 Decembris. Antiphonale Monasticum (Paris, 1934) p. 208

DECEMBER	17
O SAPIENTIA, quae ex ore Altissimi prodisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.	O Wisdom, You who proceed from the mouth of the Most High, reaching out from end to end, strongly and gently arranging all things: come to teach us the way of prudence.
DECEMBER	18
O ADONAI, et dux domus Israël, qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.	O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and on Sinai gave him the law, come to redeem us with outstretched arm.
DECEMBER	19
O RADIX JESSE, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare	O Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign for the people, before whom kings remain silent, whom the nations will worship: come to set us free, do not delay.
DECEMBER	20
O CLAVIS DAVID, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.	O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from the house of imprisonment. sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
DECEMBER	21
O ORIENS, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.	O Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine, on those sitting in darkness, and the shadow of death.
DECEMBER	22
O REX GENTIUM, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.	O King of the Nations, and the one they desired, cornerstone, who makes both one, come and save mankind, whom you formed from the mud.
DECEMBER	23
O EMMANUEL, Rex et legifer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.	O Emmanuel, Our king and bearer of the law The gentiles’ expectation, and their Savior: come to save us, Our Lord God.

u-er na-tus est no-bis, et fi-lius da-tus est no-bis,
A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us:

cu-ius impé-ri-um su-per hú-me-rum e - jus
Whose government is upon His shoulder:

et vo-cá-bi-tur nomen ei- us, magni consí-li-i An-ge-lus.
and His Name shall be called Angel of Great Counsel.

V/. Cantate Domino canticum novum quia mirabilia fecit. (Ps.97. 1)
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things

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