Father William Saunders explains:
The importance of O Antiphons is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Cavis (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah.
Reflecting on these seven titles for Christ, our newborn king, is an opportunity to spend these days glorifying our Savior and preparing our soul to receive Him.
The wisdom of God is reflected in so many ways, including the blessing of nascent life, procreated at one point and developing from there to become a fully formed human person. That same person, whether a single cell or fully formed, is part of God’s family.
Christ, the Lord, is wise in every way, and yet in our day we see far too many people rushing to deny Him, striving to blot Him out by means of contraception, abortion, and worst of all, by publicly defying Him and His real presence in the Eucharist.
Jesus Christ, the root of Jesse, is available to us in ourselves, our loved ones, and most remarkably, miraculously in the Eucharist.
Here, the Key of David is transubstantiated and lives fully human and fully divine under the auspices of bread and wine.
In Him, the rising Son, we find peace, joy, unimaginable blessings, and the presence of the one who softens our heartache, heals our brokenness, and brings light to our bleak lives. Anyone who has lost a loved one realizes this amazing gift and humbly thanks Him constantly.
Through Him, the King of Nations, we realize and recognize the awesome meaning of unconditional love. He loves us in our sinfulness, and we adoringly love Him in His merciful reality in our lives.
O Emmanuel, thank You for every gift and for every person You have created! Thank You, Lord, for being the eternal lover of life and arbiter of justice. O Emmanuel, we humbly and always love You, adore You, and pray for the courage to forever serve You.
Merry Christmas!