Sue Klejeski

O Wisdom

Today we begin the final countdown before Christmas which is famously marked with the O Antiphons (and probably better known as the verses to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”).    Before we take a closer look at each one, let’s start with the basics.  Just what is an antiphon?

Antiphon: a Psalm or verse sung or spoken in a responsorial fashion, in a call and response style.  At each Sunday Mass, you may encounter an antiphon at the parishioner’s part in the responsorial Psalm.

The O Antiphons are from Vespers in the Liturgy of the Hours and each highlights a title of the coming Messiah and it’s roots in the book of Isaiah.  The first one, O Wisdom, is rooted in two verses from the book of Isaiah:

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2-3

“[…] he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.” Isaiah 28:29

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.

Published by Sue Klejeski

Sue Klejeski and her husband were searching for a better method of passing on the Faith when they stumbled onto the newly-formed Family Formation program at the Church of Saint Paul. In the years since then, she’s been surprised to see how God wants to use her, she’s wondered why she wasted the first decades of her life as a wishy-washy Catholic, she’s learned tons of Catholic trivia, and she’s learned that none of it is trivial in God's amazing, intricate plan. Sue has presented Family Formation to parishes and professional conferences, does a little bit of everything with her parish program, and loves to help parents more effectively teach their own children. She knows from first-hand experience in teaching her own five children that Family Formation works.

Leave a comment