Friday, December 19, 2008

O Radix Jesse

On December the 19th at Vespers, the Magnificat antiphon is O radix Jesse - here it is, as sung by Oxford Dominicans:



O radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O root of Jesse, Who standest as a sign to the peoples, before Whom kings shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles beseech: come to free us, now do not delay.

Scriptural sources:
  • In die illa radix Jesse, qui stat in signum populorum, ipsum gentes deprecabuntur… (Is 11:10a-c; cf. v.1)
  • …super ipsum continebunt reges os suum… (Is 52:15b)
  • …quia veniens veniet, et non tardabit. (Hab 2:3d)
  • Quia veni, et non erat vir; vocavi, et non erat qui audiret. Numquid abbreviata et parvula facta est manus mea, ut non possim redimere? aut non est in me virtus ad liberandum? Ecce in increpatione mea desertum faciam mare, ponam flumina in siccum; computrescent pisces sine aqua, et morientur in siti. (Is 50:2)

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