O Antiphons: O Morning Star

December 21 – O Morning Star (O Oriens)

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death.

(Original translation from Latin)

O Morning Star, bright light, eternal dawn, sun of justice,

shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death;

be our guide on the path of righteousness.

Come now and show us the light that brings eternal joy.

(Contemporary translation from Thom Turner on Everyday Liturgy blog, http://everydayliturgy.com/o-antiphons-a-theological-translation/)

Numbers 24.15b-17; Luke 1:78, 79; Malachi 4:2

'The antiphon begins: O Daystar, splendor of eternal light and Sun of Justice. The Latin beginning “O Oriens” is translated in several different ways: O Daystar; O Dayspring; O Radiant Dawn [or O Morning Star]. Each of these is rich in meaning and symbolism. In the early days of the Church, the first Christian temples were constructed looking toward the east, the Orient, from Christ came and was expected to return. The sun, a symbol of Christ, rises daily from the east. And from the sun comes light and life. Similarly, it is from Christ, the Sun of Justice, that we Christians receive light and life. Christ, the Oriens from on high, is the light of the world, and it is ultimately in his light hat we shall one day see the radiance and splendor of the Father.”

(Blessings of the Daily: A Monastic Book of Days, Brother Victor-Antoine d’ Avila-Latourrette, p. 24)

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

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