O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse) - Day 3 of the O Antiphons

Today December 19th is the third day of the O Antiphons.  Today is 'O Radix Jesse' or 'O Root of Jesse'.  

The O Antiphons are short prayers sung before and after the Magnificat, the great prayer of Mary in Luke 1:46-55 when coming visit to Elizabeth her cousin the Virgin praised God for His favor wondrous deeds. The Magnificat is sung during Vespers, evening prayer. The O Antiphons begin on 17 December, seven days before the Vigil of Christmas (24 December). The seventh and last antiphon is sung at Vespers on 23 December. They are called the "O Antiphons" because they all begin with the letter-word "O": they address Jesus by one of His Old Testament titles.  They are fervent prayers asking Our Lord to come to us.


O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

Latin:

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,

super quem continebunt reges os suum,

quem Gentes deprecabuntur:

veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

English:

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.

Listen to it in Latin here (you'll need to cut & paste the link into your browser or highlight and right click 'go to')

http://www.fisheaters.com/audio/radixjesse.mp3

Isaiah 11:1-3 & 10

New International Version (NIV)

The Branch From Jesse

11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
² The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
³ and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

¹⁰ In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Romans 15:8-13

New Century Version (NCV)

⁸ I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true. ⁹ And he also did this so that those who are not Jews could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. It is written in the Scriptures:

“So I will praise you among the non-Jewish people.
    I will sing praises to your name.” Psalm 18:49

¹⁰ The Scripture also says,

“Be happy, you who are not Jews, together with his people.” Deuteronomy 32:43

¹¹ Again the Scripture says,

“All you who are not Jews, praise the Lord.
    All you people, sing praises to him.” Psalm 117:1

¹² And Isaiah says,

“A new king will come from the family of Jesse.^[a]
    He will come to rule over the non-Jewish people,
and they will have hope because of him.” Isaiah 11:10

¹³ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

May this day find you all blessed and well.  May you also find yourselves drawing closer and closer to the Spirit of Christ as we draw nearer day by day to the celebration of his birth into our world.

In His Love and Care,

Roy