O Antiphons

[1] The first letters of the titles, from last to first, appear to form a Latin acrostic, Ero cras, meaning 'Tomorrow, I will be [there]', mirroring the theme of the antiphons.

[13] Latin: O Adonai,[14] et Dux domus Israel,[15] qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,[16] et ei in Sina legem dedisti:[17] veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

[18] English (Anglican): O Adonai,[19] and leader of the House of Israel,[20] who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush,[21] and gave him the law on Sinai:[22] Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

English (Anglican): O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;[27] before you kings will shut their mouths,[28] to you the nations will make their prayer:[29] Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

[37] Latin: O Oriens,[38] splendor lucis aeternae,[39] et sol justitiae:[40] veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

[41] English (Anglican): O Morning Star,[42] splendour of light eternal[43] and sun of righteousness:[44] Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

[45] Latin: O Rex Gentium,[46] et desideratus earum,[47] lapisque angularis,[48] qui facis utraque unum:[49] veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

[50] English (Anglican): O King of the nations,[51] and their desire,[52] the cornerstone[53] making both one:[54] Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

For the Alleluia verses, the Lectionary moves O Emmanuel to the 21st,[65] uses Rex Gentium on both the 22nd[66] and 23rd,[67] and places O Oriens on the morning of the 24th,[68] but the traditional ordering from the 17th through the 23rd is also permitted.

[68] The Catholic personal ordinariates follow the practice for days from the 17th to the 23rd (Magnificat antiphon at Evensong[69] and Alleluia Verse at Mass, either in the traditional order as indicated in Divine Worship: The Missal or in the order indicated in the Lectionary,[70] but also use O Virgo virginum on the morning of 24 December, both as the Benedictus antiphon at morning prayer and as the Alleluia verse at Mass.

In 1986, St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle conceived a special Advent liturgy using the O Antiphons, which has remained in practice every year since.

In the Book of Common Worship published by the Presbyterian Church (USA), the antiphons can be read as a praise litany at Morning or Evening Prayer.