To many of us modern folks, the antiphon that begins with “O Root of Jesse” seems, perhaps, out of place among the others in the sequence. Poetic, sure. “Biblical,” of course. But the rest of the “O Antiphons” appear to emphasize key—sometimes eternal—attributes of who God is.
O Adonai: O Lord of Might
The O Antiphons give seven Messianic titles to Jesus. The first title, Wisdom (Sapientia), evokes God’s creation as described in Genesis and Proverbs. The second title, Adonai, derives from the second book of the Bible, Exodus, in which God delivers his people. Traditional Antiphon O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared…
O Sapientia: O Wisdom From On High
In the original O Antiphons, and still to this day on the church calendar, “O Wisdom” was the first of the seven
Mother of God: Anglicans and the Marian Dogmas
How do Anglicans view the Marian dogmas, and what differences exist between our view of dogma and Rome’s?
Book Review: Maiden, Mother and Queen by Roger Greenacre
Maiden, Mother, & Queen: Mary in the Anglican Tradition is an editorial compilation of works and homilies by the Rev. Canon Dr. Roger Greenacre (1931–2011), a leading Anglican ecumenist and liturgical scholar.
Book Review: Becoming God’s Family by Carmen Joy Imes
In Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters, Dr. Carmen Joy Imes invites readers to rediscover the beauty of life together as God’s people.
Icons Over Idols: Heroes in an Age of Disillusionment
There is an overwhelming lack of trust in leadership and institutions, including religious leaders, in our day. I’ve had young men approach me privately within my parish, lamenting that they believe they cannot trust the actions or teachings of any religious leader or denomination. A perceived absence of trustworthy shepherds—dare I say heroes—plagues the Christian…
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: The Importance of Speed in Church Discipline
Speed is an essential quality of effective church discipline. Speed is not merely helpful; rather, speed is essential. We find this principle grounded in Biblical teaching, English common law, the American Constitution, and contemporary practice. The saying is true (and worthy of full acceptance): when justice is delayed, justice is denied. Moreover, the church’s recent…
Hymn Guide: For All The Saints
Long before I thought about its lyrics, I loved to sing “For All the Saints.” The marching rhythm, the majestic tune, the repeated Alleluias: these would stir in my heart and inspire devotion to God. How wonderful, then, to discover that the hymn is also deeply theological, offering a profound reflection on the meaning of…
Book Review: The Fourth Synoptic Gospel by Mark Goodacre
Mark Goodacre, The Fourth Synoptic Gospel: John’s Knowledge of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2025). Pp. xiii and 191. US$29.99 New Testament studies always suffer from the fact that their core material is a very small body of literature: twenty-seven short texts written, I would suggest, in the first century CE. The…
For the Procreation of Children: The First Purpose of Marriage
The first purpose of marriage is the procreation of children. This is the teaching of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. What’s more, children are a blessing and a joy! Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior…
Book Review: A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis
David Mathis’s A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul is a concise book on the benefits of exercise for the Christian life. The subtitle “enjoying Christ in body and soul” is at the heart of the book. Mathis, a pastor at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and an adjunct professor…
