Advent Prayers

During the season of Advent, we await the coming of Christ, who comes to us in many forms and whom we call by many names.  

For centuries, the Church has prayed for Christ's coming as Wisdom, Adonai, King of Nations, Emmanuel, Root of Jesse, Key of David, and Dayspring with seven prayers known as the "O Antiphons." 

Below you can listen and pray the seven  "O Antiphons" in English in a traditional chant form, as well as in the more familiar hymn form.  

You can also pray Advent Evening Prayer on your own at home using the resources on our Advent Evening Prayer page. 

In his book of poetry, Expectant: Verses for Advent (Cairns Publications, Harlech, 2002), poet Jim Cotter offers 24 original "O Antiphons"--one for each day of December leading up to Christmas.  We invite you to use the prayers, below, to anchor your daily prayer during this Advent Season.  

If these prayers are a blessing to you, the author invites donations, according to conscience and means, to the Llandecwyn Project of the Small Pilgrim Places Network.

Advent "Calendar" of Prayer

One short prayer for each day of Advent.  Pause and pray.  Light a candle and listen.