Catholic Minute The O Antiphons Explained: The Church’s Hidden Countdown to Christmas (Fr Cristino)
The O Antiphons Explained — the Church’s hidden Advent countdown to Christmas that most Catholics have never been taught.
From December 17–23, the Church secretly proclaims a message in the liturgy that points to the coming of Christ — and it’s hidden in plain sight.
For the final days of Advent, the Church shifts the entire focus of the liturgy toward the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ. Beginning on December 17, Catholics pray the O Antiphons — ancient titles of Christ drawn directly from Scripture — during Evening Prayer and at Mass.
In this episode, Father Cristino reveals how these seven antiphons — O Sapientia, O Adonai, O Radix Jesse, O Clavis David, O Oriens, O Rex Gentium, and O Emmanuel — are intentionally arranged to form a hidden Latin message when read in reverse.
That message?
“Ero cras.” — “Tomorrow, I will come.”
This is not a coincidence. It is a profound example of how the Church’s liturgy quietly teaches theology, Scripture, and longing for Christ — not through explanation, but through prayer itself.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
• What the O Antiphons are and where they come from
• Why they are prayed only from December 17–23
• How O Come, O Come Emmanuel is rooted in the liturgy
• The hidden Advent message encoded in the antiphons
• Why surrendering to the Church’s liturgical rhythm forms us more deeply than we realize
This episode will change the way you experience Advent — and help you enter Christmas with greater awe, anticipation, and faith.
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