December 17th.
"O Wisdom Who camest forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from end to end mightily, and disposing all things
sweetly, come and teach us the way of prudence!"
(_Vide_ Wisdom VIII. 1).
_1st. Prelude._ The Tabernacle of the hidden God.
_2nd. Prelude._ The grace of prudence.
For seven days before the Vigil of Christmas, the Church makes use of
seven solemn antiphons, commonly known as the "Seven O's," because they
all begin with "O." One is sung every day at Vespers reminding us that
Our Lord is to come in the evening of the world's history. They are a
sort of cry or invitation of the Church, addressing her Bridegroom by
some spiritual title and begging Him to come. Before and after the
_Magnificat_ is the time the Church chooses for these solemn antiphons
in order to keep constantly before our minds the truth that He is coming
by Mary. As the days of Advent draw nearer to their close, this truth is
plainly marked in the Mass. The Epistle, Gospel and Communion for Ember
Wednesday (in the third week) are all full of Mary; the Gospel for Ember
Friday gives the account of the Visitation; the Mass for the Fourth
Sunday of Advent, as if the Church were loath to leave her out, brings
Mary in at the Offertory and Communion; and that for the Vigil of
Christmas devotes its Gospel to her. Let us then as we meditate on these
great antiphons look in the direction of Mary where our King is as yet
hidden, remembering that it is she who when Christmas comes, is going to
shew unto us the Blessed Fruit of her womb JESUS.