 
The Greater Antiphons are derived from the Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours in the Daily Office for Advent in anticipation of the Coming of the Lord. These Antiphons, also called the "O Antiphons" because they address in exclamatory manner the desperation and anxiety in which the people of the Old Testament so prayed for the promised coming of the Messias, dates back to the the 8th century in universal use in the Church. Their form and importance were created by Benedictine Monks in the early 6th century when they were recited during the seven days leading up to the Christmas Vigil. Some say this originated at the Abbey of Fleury in France and were popular among the Benedictines, eventually spreading to Rome and the influence of the Roman Pontiffs to gain full approval in the Official Liturgy of the Breviary.
In their structure, each of the seven antiphons follows the same purpose - that of praising the Savior of the world by one of His particular titles, evident after the O, such as Ruler - Adonai or King - Rex, etc. Also each 0 Antiphon carries in this liturgical prayer an invocation of the long-awaited Savior, then praising Him under the title He was addressed by in each particular Antiphon. Every Antiphon ends with a petition from His faithful ones per the title by which He is addressed, to answer their prayer and to make the appearance of the promised Messias a reality. This is most evident in the Seventh Antiphon, "veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster" - "come to save us, O Lord our God." From this is derived the popular hymn 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel...'
The seven titles attributed to Jesus in the antiphons are Wisdom (Sapientia), Ruler of the House of Israel (Adonai), Root of Jesse (Radix), Key of David (Clavis), Rising Dawn (Oriens), King of the Gentiles (Rex). and Emmanuel. In Latin the initials of the titles from the last to the first form the acronym Ero cras, translation of which is: "I will be there Tomorrow" or "Tomorrow I will come." You can see this with the large black letters on each antiphon from the 23rd back to the 17th. Below you can click on the chronological series of the Greater Antiphons or scroll to understand the acronym of the 0 Antiphons.
- First Antiphon
- Second Antiphon
- Third
Antiphon
- Fourth
Antiphon
- Fifth
Antiphon
- Sixth
Antiphon
- Seventh
Antiphon
E
December 23 -ADVENT FERIA
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O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, expecatatio Gentium, eat Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.
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"O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God."
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R
December 22 - Double of the Second Class Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
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O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
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"O King of the Gentiles and the desired of them, Thou cornerstone that makest both one, come and deliver man, whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth."
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O
December 21 - Double of the Second Class Feast of SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE
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O Oriens, spelndor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
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"O Dawn of the East, brightness of the light eternal, and Sun of Justice, come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
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C
December 20 - Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle
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O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit, caudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
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"O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, Who openest and no man shutteth, Who shuttest and no man openeth: come and bring forth from his prison-house, the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death."
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R
December 19 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
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"O Root of Jesse, Who standest for an ensign of the people, before Whom kings shall keep silence, and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not."
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A
December 18 - EMBER SATURDAY IN ADVENT
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O Adonai, et dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
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"O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush, and didst give unto him the law on Sinai : come and with an outstretch arm redeem us."
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