O Clavis David, meaning “O Key of David,” proclaims God’s appointed leadership of Christ Jesus as the fulfillment of the hopes and promises given to the dynasty of King David.
O Radix Jesse: O Root of Jesse
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, 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 to…
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
Today in the Spirit: Advent 4A (Annunciation)
We all know that sense of heightened desire that accompanies the arrival of a big day, like a wedding day or the first day of a new job. A moment of transition is at hand, and, like a child waiting for, well, Christmas, we feel more intensely that combined force of eagerness from not yet…
The Global Anglican Communion: From Canterbury to Jerusalem
Someone may ask: “Hasn’t the Anglican Communion been around for a long, long time?” This depends on what you consider a long time and how you define the Anglican Communion.
The Liturgical Home: The Tradition of Christmas Markets
The Christmas market is more than a charming winter custom or a festive place to shop; it has deep Christian roots that reach back to the medieval Church.
Hymn Guide: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
“Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending” is Charles Wesley’s great hymn on the second coming of Christ, and one of the most majestic congregational songs in the entire repertoire.
Today in the Spirit: Advent 3A (Gaudete)
In all three years of our Sunday lectionary, Advent 3 is also “The Baptist” 2. After reacquainting us with the character and preaching of John the Baptist in Advent 2, the church assigns a collect and readings to take us deeper into consideration of the power of biblical prophecy in general and John’s role, in…
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?
