O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.
We live in nations plagued by sin. Even our most gifted and moral leaders are but clay. Every kingdom will ultimately fall before the eternal King and His kingdom without end. 'The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice…’ - Psalm 97:1
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore. - Isaiah 2:4
But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand. - Isaiah 64:8
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him.
May Jesus Christ be praised!
—based on Psalm 72, NRSV
Taken from the Worship Sourcebook
To download a complete PDF of the O Antiphon Advent Devotional, click here.