Jesse Tree — Day 23: O God With Us

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

   

Day 22: O King of the Gentiles

Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host

Mosaic from the apse of Saint Sophia, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington DC.
taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., some rights reserved

Isaiah 7:10-14; 33:22
Romans 8:20-24
John 1:1-18

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Jesse Tree — Day 22: O King of the Gentiles

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

   

Day 22: O King of the Gentiles

Symbols: crown, scepter

Detail from the beautifully carved great reredos, carved by Lee Lawrie, in the Episcopal Church of St Thomas on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., some rights reserved

Genesis 2:7
Ezekiel 37:21-28
Isaiah 26:8-9, 40:31
Jeremiah 10:7
Haggai 2:7

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

Jesse Tree — Day 21: O Dayspring, Radiant Dawn

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

Day 20: O Dayspring, Radiant Dawn

Symbols: sun rising or high in sky

This is the mosaic dome in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington DC.
Taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., some rights reserved

Jer. 23:5
Zechariah 3:8; 6:12
Malachi 3:2
Luke 1:78-79
Hebrews 1:1-4
John 8:12

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

Jesse Tree — Day 20: O Key of David

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

   

Day 19: O Root of Jesse

Symbols: key, broken chains

Medieval Limoges enamel of the Harrowing of Hell, by which the Risen Lord Jesus frees Adam and Eve and the patriarchs from the jaws of death. This piece is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew O.P., some rights reserved

Isaiah 22:20-24
Revelation 1:18; chapter 3; 20:4-6, 13

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.

Jesse Tree — Day 19: O Root of Jesse

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

Day 19: O Root of Jesse

Symbols: flower, plant with flower

Detail from the painted ceiling of Ely Cathedral,
taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.

Isaiah 11:1-5, 52:13-53:6
Revelation 5:5, 22:16
John 15:1-4

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.

Jesse Tree - Day 18: O Lord of Israel

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

Day 18: O Lord of Israel

Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets

Mosaic of Moses and the Burning Bush in the National Shrine in Washington DC.
The Lord, with outstretched arms on the Cross, comes to redeem us.
Taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., some rights reserved

Exodus 3:1-6, 6:6, 19:16-19, 20:1-6

O Adonai [Lord], 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.

Jesse Tree - Day 17: O Wisdom

On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.

The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons sung or recited at Vespers from December 17-23. Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture.

Day 17: O Wisdom

Symbols: oil lamp, open book

Detail from a tapestry c.1500-20 from the Netherlands, and housed in the Cloisters Museum, NYC.
Taken by Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., some rights reserved

Sirach 24:1, 3-4, 7
Wisdom 8:1, 9:1-6
Isaiah 40:14
Baruch 3:15, 29-37
1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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.