Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
By Michael John Trotta
The text of “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” (often modernized as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”) comes from a series of ancient Latin antiphons known as the “O Antiphons,” which date back to at least the 8th or 9th century. Each antiphon begins with “O” and a title for the coming Messiah derived from the Hebrew Scriptures: O Sapientia (Wisdom), O Adonai (Lord), O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (Key of David), O Oriens (Dayspring), O Rex Gentium (King of the Nations), O Emmanuel (God with us). The initials of these titles, when read backward, form the acrostic “ERO CRAS”—Latin for “I will be [with you] tomorrow”—a hidden message anticipating the arrival of Christ on Christmas Eve.
By Michael John Trotta
The text of “Veni, Veni Emmanuel” (often modernized as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”) comes from a series of ancient Latin antiphons known as the “O Antiphons,” which date back to at least the 8th or 9th century. Each antiphon begins with “O” and a title for the coming Messiah derived from the Hebrew Scriptures: O Sapientia (Wisdom), O Adonai (Lord), O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (Key of David), O Oriens (Dayspring), O Rex Gentium (King of the Nations), O Emmanuel (God with us). The initials of these titles, when read backward, form the acrostic “ERO CRAS”—Latin for “I will be [with you] tomorrow”—a hidden message anticipating the arrival of Christ on Christmas Eve.