Sede Sapientiae, ora pro nobis

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-3)

Today, the Church contemplates the Incarnation of Divine Wisdom, who is the Word of God.

(For an explanation of the O Antiphons, please see our Post on the Christmas Novena).

Today’s O Antiphon: O Sapientia

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

In Latin:

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

Jesus Christ, eternally begotten of the Father comes forth from the mouth of the Most High.  He is the eternal Wisdom of God, who became flesh and lived among us to teach us the way of prudence: the way to live holy lives, the way of divine wisdom, the way back to the Father.

Here is an example of today’s antiphon sung by the Dominican student brothers at Blackfriars in Oxford. The antiphon accompanies the singing of the Magnificat at the end of Evening Prayer.

This is a contemporary example of the O Antiphons (the first of which is ‘O Sapientia’). The melody, taken from the traditional Latin hymn, is deeply moving, spiritual and prayerful.

The Church invites us during these last days leading up to Christmas to meditate on Christ’s Incarnation and coming to us as baby, born of the Blessed Virgin. The O Antiphons, prayed at the end of evening prayer each night each focus on one epithet for our Lord for us to contemplate that day. Today’s for example is Wisdom. Here are the 7 antiphons for the rest of the Christmas Novena (See our explanation of the Antiphons in our Christmas Novena post):

• December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
• December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
• December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
• December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
• December 21: O Oriens (O Dawn)
• December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
• December 23: O Emmanuel (O God is with us)

And here are a few verses related today’s Antiphon, ‘O Wisdom,’ for your Advent contemplation today:

“He is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom” Isaiah 28:29

“I came out of the mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud” Sirach 24:3

“Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things” Wisdom 8:1

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord” Isaiah 11:2-3

Mary, Seat of Wisdom, Pray for us!