O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Each verse of this hymn corresponds to an O Antiphon. The original Latin hymn, Veni, Veni Emmanuel was taken from Psalteriolum Cantionum, Colgne, 1710. The author of the words and composer to the music is unknown. It is believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text much later. (Listen to the hymn performed by the Christendom College Choir & Schola Gregoriana below.)

Prayer:

December 17, O Wisdom

O Come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

December 18, O Lord and Ruler

O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might:
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In Ancient times did give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Refrain

December 19, O Root of Jesse

O Come, thou rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust Thy mighty power to save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.

Refrain

December 20, O Key of David

O Come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home,
Make safe the way that leads on high,
That we no more have cause to sigh.

Refrain

December 21, O Dawn of the East

O Come, Thou Dayspring from on High
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight.

Refrain

December 22, O King of the Gentiles

O Come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid every strife and quarrel cease
And fill the world with heaven's peace.

Refrain

December 23, O Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain