O Antiphon Porcelain Christmas Tree Ornament - O Emmanuel
Porcelain, double sided
Approximately 3.75", includes hanging ribbon (style and color may vary)
Designed and made by the Sisters
The O antiphon prayers attached to the Magnificat at the Hour of Vespers, are beautiful meditations that encapsulate all of the Church’s longing and expectation in Advent. They are the climax of the Advent liturgy, prayed (usually chanted) the seven days before Christmas. This Ornament is printed with the seventh O Antiphon (O Emmanuel) sung on December 23rd. On the other side is an image of the Baby Jesus within the Holy Trinity.
Text of Antiphon: "O God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God. "
"O Emmanuel! King of Peace! Thou enterest today the city of Thy predilection, the city in which thou hast placed Thy Temple—Jerusalem. A few years hence, and the same city will give Thee Thy Cross and Thy Sepulcher: nay, the day will come, on which Thou wilt set up Thy Judgment-seat within sight of her walls. But today, Thou enterest the city of David and Solomon unnoticed and unknown. It lies on Thy road to Bethlehem. We adore Thee, O Emmanuel! in this Thy journey, and we reverence the fidelity wherewith Thou fulfillest all that the prophets have written of Thee, for Thou wouldst give to Thy people the certainty of Thy being the Messiah, by showing them that all the marks whereby he was to be known, are to be found in Thee. And now, the hour is near; all is ready for Thy Birth; come, then, and save us; come, that Thou mayest not only be called our Emmanuel, but our Jesus, that is, He that saves us."
- Commentary on the seventh O Antiphon, Father Gueranger, excerpt from the Liturgical year