The O Antiphons in Latin and English

For the last seven evenings of Advent the Church sings one antiphon before the Magnificat, each calling on Christ by an Old Testament title and asking Him to come. Here are all seven, in the ancient Latin with our own English translation, on their 2026 dates.

Pray one each evening at the Advent wreath. Each title has its own page, with the Scripture it is woven from and a short reflection.

Thursday, December 17: O Sapientia — O Wisdom

LatinO Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

Our translationO Wisdom, who came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.

Friday, December 18: O Adonai — O Lord

LatinO Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

Our translationO Adonai, Lord and leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

Saturday, December 19: O Radix Jesse — O Root of Jesse

LatinO Radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

Our translationO Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign for the peoples, before whom kings will fall silent and whom the nations will implore: come and set us free; delay no longer.

Sunday, December 20: O Clavis David — O Key of David

LatinO Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Our translationO Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, who open and no one shuts, who shut and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner out of the prison house, who sits in darkness and the shadow of death.

Monday, December 21: O Oriens — O Dayspring

LatinO Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

Our translationO Dayspring, splendor of eternal light and sun of justice: come, and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.

Tuesday, December 22: O Rex Gentium — O King of the Nations

LatinO Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

Our translationO King of the nations and their desire, the cornerstone who makes both one: come, and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.

Wednesday, December 23: O Emmanuel — God with Us

LatinO Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

Our translationO Emmanuel, our King and lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Antiphon questions

What are the O Antiphons?

Seven short antiphons sung before the Magnificat at Evening Prayer on December 17–23. Each addresses Christ by an Old Testament title — Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of the Nations, Emmanuel — and ends with “Come.” In the current Lectionary they are also the Gospel acclamations at Mass on those days.

When are the O Antiphons in 2026?

Thursday, December 17 (O Sapientia) through Wednesday, December 23 (O Emmanuel), 2026.

What does ERO CRAS mean?

Read the first letter of each title after the “O” from last to first — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — and you get ERO CRAS, Latin for “tomorrow I will be there.” Whether the acrostic was intended is unknown, but it has been noticed for centuries.

How old are the O Antiphons?

They were in use in Rome by the eighth century. Some medieval English uses began a day earlier, on December 16, and added an eighth antiphon, O Virgo virginum.

Is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” the O Antiphons?

Yes, loosely: it is a metrical paraphrase of five of them, translated by John Mason Neale in 1851; the verses most people sing are the 1861 Hymns Ancient & Modern text. The Wisdom and Desire of Nations verses were added in the twentieth century.

Evening Prayer every night of Advent, with audio, in the Liturgy of the Hours in the app.