December 17th - 23rd: The Great 'O Antiphons'

[Stone]

DECEMBER 18



Second Antiphon
(Listen to the Chant)

O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti; veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extenso.

O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, who appearedst to Moses in the fire of the flaming bush, and gavest to him the law on Sinai; come and redeem us by thy outstretched arm.


O Sovereign Lord! O Adonai! come and redeem us, not by thy power, but by thy humility. Heretofore, thou didst show thy self 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, she 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 willest to deliver us from the slavery of our pride, and show man that thy divine arm is never stronger than when he 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.