Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the "O Antiphons" on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end on the 23rd, which is the last Vespers of Advent, since the evening prayer on the 24th is the Vigil of Christmas.
The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
Each night, following our family rosary, we pray the O Antiphon for the day, sing
O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which was inspired by this ancient tradition, and then give the children a special treat.
The "treats" have varied from year to year. Some years it has been little gifts or activities for the family, some years it is all food related, and some years it is a mix of both, depending on our schedule and budget. It doesn't need to cost much! Sometimes the treats are a bit of a stretch, but my goal is try and find gifts that will either help increase our faith (Catechism books, holy family, saints, prayer, etc) or encourage family time (games, puzzles, going to look at Christmas lights, etc). You can find some of our past O Antiphon treats by
scrolling through the archives and visiting
Catholic Cuisine.
Our family loves this tradition. It is such a fun way to teach the children about these beautiful prayers of the church and also increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer.
This year I am hosting an O ANTIPHON GIVEAWAY! One lucky visitor here at Shower of Roses will receive a gift package which will include one complete set of O Antiphon Ornaments and one themed gift for each of the seven O Antiphons! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to enter.
I have listed each of the prizes below, as well as additional ideas (food, activities and gifts - or simply decorate chocolate coins) for each of the O Antiphons:
.: December 17th :.
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!
Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, I usually choose a new Catholic book for our family. This year I'm planning to give our family a copy of
An Alphabet of the Altar, a brand new release from
St. Augustine Academy Press. I'll also be including a copy provided by St. Augustine Academy Press in the giveaway below!
This book is gorgeous! I can't wait to read it to my children later this month.
"This is perhaps the most beautiful book we have come across in a long time, and it was a labor of love to reprint it for you. Each lavishly illustrated page is mesmerizing in its detail but even more so for its love of the beauty of our Faith. Printed in a deep, rich brown ink on cream paper, with a cloth hardcover and dimensional gold embossing, this is a book that will make you feel proud to be Catholic. Preorder yours today and save--this will make the perfect Christmas gift--even for those who already know their alphabet quite well."
Additional Ideas:
- Bible Cookies
- Brain Food (Dark Chocolate, Deviled Eggs)
- Play a Trivia Game (Christmas Trivia, Catholic Trivia, Cranium)
- Play Scattergories-Catholic Edition
- Bookmarks or Holy Cards (order customized Holy Cards from Keepsakes by Carrie)
- Family Prayer Book, Catechism, or other Book (The Catechism in Pictures with review here, Jesus Make Me Worthy, My Catholic Faith, A Catholic Child's Picture Dictionary, Around the Year: Once Upon a Time Saints, or even incorporate the Doctors of the Church like the St. Therese Picture Books including the new Flowers for Jesus from Peanut Butter & Grace, etc... The possibilities are endless.)
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
In the past we would emphasize the word "house" in this Antiphon, and have made our Gingerbread Houses or Gingerbread Cookies on this night. Now that we have two birthdays this week (and two birthday cakes to bake and decorate!) we usually wait until Christmas Eve, or sometime during the 12 Days of Christmas to decorated Gingerbread Houses. We have also incorporated Moses and the Ten Commandments.
Additional Ideas:
.: December 19th :.
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) - Jesse Tree Kit
sponsored by Sacred Heart Books & Gifts
Additional Ideas:
.: December 20th :.
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
O Clavis David (O Key of David) - Tiny Saints Key Hooks
(Duplicates of a couple we already have. Hope the winner likes them as much as we do!)
.: December 21st :.
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
(I love these candles! I bought a couple of this scent, one for me and one to give away.)
.: December 22nd :.
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
This year our kiddos will be unwrapping this darling Wise Men Puzzle Set to go along with the Nativity they received last year. I'm still in love with all the toys from Naturally Catholic!
.: December 23rd :.
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
.: O ANTIPHONS GIVEAWAY :.
Enter the Giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now that I have these all wrapped and ready to send to someone,
I need to finish up our gifts for this year and get them wrapped up too! :)
