The Windkey and the Lamplighter

O Rex Gentium

O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem,
quem de limo formasti.

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

This one is text from Isaiah that you’ll recognize:

"For a child has been born for us, a son given us; authority rests
upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty
God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

And some from Isaiah that you may not:

"He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many
peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their
spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Isaiah 2:4

Listen Here to O Rex Gentium.

2007 12 23

O Oriens

This one I could almost have translated by myself, but I had the
Wikipedia article right there, so I didn’t. Also, the sung
translation uses "Dayspring" instead of "sunrise".

O Oriens,
splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. 

O Sunrise,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Listen Here to the fifth verse of "O Come Emmanuel", a translation
of O Oriens.

This has one of my favorite Isaiah prophecies: "The people who walked
in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of
darkness deepon them light has shined." Isaiah 9:2

2007 12 21

O Clavis David

Another exciting installment in our continuing Advent series of
recorded live music from me!

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The text comes from Isaiah 22:22 and Isaiah 42:7

Listen Here to a poetic English translation of O Clavis David

2007 12 20

O Radix Jesse

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
    super quem continebunt reges os suum,
    quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
        veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. 

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
    before you kings will shut their mouths,
    to you the nations will make their prayer:
        Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

This verse references Isaiah’s prophecies that a "shoot from the stalk
of Jesse" Isaiah 11:1 "shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the
nations shall inquire of him" Isaiah 11:10

Listen Here to a slightly less faithful (but more poetic) English
translation than the one above.

2007 12 19

O Adonai

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
    qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
    et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
        veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. 

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
    who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
    and gave him the law on Sinai:
        Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

This text references Isaiah 11:4-5 and Isaiah 33:22

Listen Here to an English translation of O Adonai

I forgot to include my sources for yesterday’s text, so I will put
them here. CatholicEducation.org has a good article and so does
Wikipedia, and I originally got this idea from the introduction to
Advent for Choirs

2007 12 18

O Sapienta

Christmas is almost here, and the liturgy for Dec 17-24 includes one
of my favorite hymns. "O Come Emmanuel" is an English translation of
the Latin "O Antiphons", which each highlight a title for the Messiah.
They are traditionally recited at evening prayer, but I will post one
here each day and you can decide to listen to them whenever you like.

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

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.

This refers to Isaiah’s prophecies in Isaiah 11:2-3 and Isaiah 28:29

Listen Here to O Sapientia, sung in English.

2007 12 17