O Adonai
For Advent
Words:
Veni, Veni, Emanuel (the "O" Antiphons),
Authorship
Unknown, 8th Century Latin;
Published As A Hymn in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, 7th Edition, Köln, 1710.
See: Notes on Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Source: Abbott Prosper Louis Paschal Guéranger, O.S.B., The Liturgical Year, Vol. 1, Advent. Westminster, MD: The Newman Press, 1948, p. 487. Translation by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B., ca. 1867.
SECOND ANTIPHON
| O Adonai,
et dux domus Israël, qui Moysi in igne flamme rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. |
O Adonaĩ, and leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush, and gavist him the law on Sinaĩ; come and redeem us by thy outstretched arm. |
O SOVEREIGN Lord! O Adonaï! come and redeem us, not by Thy power, but by Thy humility. Heretofore, Thou didst show Thyself to Moses Thy servant in the midst of a mysterious flame ; Thou didst give Thy law to Thy people amidst thunder and lightning; now, on the contrary, Thou comest not to terrify, but to save us. Thy chaste Mother having heard the emperor’s edict, which obliges her and Joseph her spouse to repair to Bethlehem, prepares everything needed for Thy divine Birth. She prepares for Thee, O Sun of justice! the humble swathing-bands, wherewith to cover Thy nakedness, and, protect Thee, the Creator of the world, from the cold, of that midnight hour of Thy Nativity! Thus it is that Thou wiliest to deliver us from the slavery of our pride, and show man that Thy divine arm is never stronger than when be thinks it powerless and still. Everything is prepared, then, dear Jesus! Thy swathing-bands are ready for Thy infant limbs! Come to Bethlehem, and redeem us from the hands of our enemies.
Note:
The second of the seven Great Antiphons. See Guéranger's Preface: The Commencement of the Great Antiphons.
All of Guéranger's commentaries:
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Dec. 17: O Sapientia (I)
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Dec. 18: O Adonai (II)
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Dec. 18: The Expectation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary (O Virgo virginum)
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Dec. 19: O Radix Jesse (III)
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Dec. 20: O Clavis David (IV), plus O Gabriel!
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Dec. 21: Saint Thomas, Apostle (O Thoma Didyme!)
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Dec. 21: O Oriens (V)
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Dec. 22: O Rex Gentium (VI), plus O Rex pacifice
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Dec. 23: O Emmanuel (VII), plus O Hierusalem!
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Dec. 24: Christmas Eve - The Vigil Of Christmas
See: The Great Advent Antiphons, The O Antiphons, and The Prose Antiphons.
See also O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Version 1, and Christ by Cynewulf.
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