O Sapientia!
O Sapientia!
(O Wisdom!) These are the opening words of the first of a series of anthems, one of which was sung with the Magnificant every evening, in the Church of England, before the Reformation, for the eight days preceding Christmas-eve; that sung on Dec. 17 beginning "O Sapientia!"' The series is here given in an English translation:
"Dec. 17. O Sapientia! O Wisdom! which camest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching fron one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things, come and teach us the way of understanding.
"Dec. 18. O Adonai! O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in the bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come and deliver us with an outstretched arm.
"Dec. 19. O Radix Jesse! O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom kings shall shut their months, thou to whom the Gentiles shall seek, come and deliver us now; tarry not.
"Dec. 20. O Claavi David! O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel, thou that openest, and no man shutteth; and shuttest, and no man openeth; come and bring the prisoner out of the prison-house, and him that sitteth in darkness and in the shadows of death.
"Dec. 21. O Orieles! O Day-Spring, brightness of the everlasting light, and Sun of Righteousness, come and enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
"Dec. 22. O Rex Gentium! O King and Desire of all nations, thou Corner-Stone who hast made both one, come and save man whom thou formedst from the clay.
"Dec. 23. O Emmanuel! O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, Hope of the Gentiles and their Savior, come and save us, O Lord our God."
