A novena is a nine days' prayer said as a preparation for some
particular feast, or in order to obtain some special favor.  The model and
the first of all novenas was that made in the Cenacle, after the Ascension
of our Lord, by the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin in preparation for the
coming of the Holy Ghost.  The earliest ecclesiastical novena of which the
Church has on record is the Christmas novena, which commemorates the nine
months during which the Christ-child was carried in the womb of His Mother.

NOVENA FOR CHRISTMAS

December 16
O Shepherd that rulest Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, come
to guide and comfort us. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 17
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from
one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to
teach us the way of prudence! (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 18
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in
the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with
an outstretched arm! (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 19
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the
kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to
deliver us, do not tarry. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 20
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man
shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner
from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 21
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death! (Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 22
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that
makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of
the earth! (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

December 23
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and
salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God! (Our Father, Hail Mary,
Glory be)

December 24
O Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, God of hosts, come, show Thy face,
and we shall be saved. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be)

(Indulgence of 7 years once on any day.)
 

[From "Blessed Be God" prayer book, 1959]
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THE GREATER ANTIPHONS

Seven of these verses have been traditionally said or sung as part of the
Divine Office at Vespers for over 1400 years.  The Divine Office is:

"the service of prayer and praise, psalms, lessons, hymns, etc., ancillary
to and distinct from the sacrifice of the Mass, which all priests and
certain other clerics are obliged to recite daily, which is said or sung in
choir by monks, friars, many nuns and some others, and in which the laity
are exhorted to take part according to their ability and opportunity.'
- "A Catholic Dictionary", Attwater (1954)

These seven verses are also known as The "O" Antiphons (or The Great O's)
because each begins with that interjection. They are said in conjunction
with 5 psalms at Vespers beginning on December 17th.

The boundless desire for the coming of Christ which is the characteristic
of Advent is expressed in the liturgy with an insistence which grows
greater as we draw nearer to Christmas. This longing for the coming of
Christ is seen most poetically in these "O" Antiphons.

They embody the profound poignancy with which all creation waits for God's
presence in Jesus Christ. They express the longing felt for the coming of
the Messiah by the patriarchs, the prophets and all the Jewish people
including Mary.

December 17: O Wisdom (O Sapientia).....come
18: O Adonai (O Adonai).....come
19: O Root of Jesse (O Radix).....come
20: O Key of David (O Clavis).....come
21: O Radiant Dawn (O Oriens).....come
22: O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium).....come
23: O Emmanuel (O God-with-us).....come

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The first antiphon translated:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodisti, attingens a fine usque ad
finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: come, ad docendum nos viam
prudentiae.

O Wisdom, who camest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end
to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us
the way of prudence.
-----------------------------------------------------------

The antiphons are all addressed to Jesus, using the Latin words:
Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel.

It is interesting to note that the first letters in order are:
S A R C O R E

We don't know who discovered this but, in reversed order, separated into
two words, they are:

ERO CRAS

Which translated means:

I WILL BE, TOMORROW.

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