O Stella Jacob: The Little Epiphany of Mary’s Nativity
Today, with the antiphon O Stella Jacob, the Monastery of Our Lady of the Cenacle draws to a close our cycle of Marian O Antiphons. We commented back in in 2024 that reference to a star calls to mind the Epiphany, and specifically the fifth antiphon for the Epiphany, Stella ista. It is pleasant to think that the Star, shining forth, leading wise men to God, the King of Kings, is Mary herself!
There is no O Antiphon for tomorrow, since First Vespers begins the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. There is, however, a Marian Antiphon and Collect for the Vigil based on the antiphon from Christmas eve.
Once again, we recorded today’s antiphon. You can listen to all the antiphons we recorded at the bottom of this post.
6 September, O Stella Jacob
| ANT. O Stella Jacob fulgida, Stella nuntia lucis, Stella splendida et matutina! Veni, noli tardare: appare nobis, et per salutis viam deduc nos prævia ad diem supremum. | ANT. O Gleaming Star of Jacob, O Star that is the Messenger of the Light, O shining and morning Star! Come, tarry not, appear to us, and, going before us, lead us through the way of Salvation to that greatest of days! |
| ℣. Orietur Stella ex Jacob. ℟. Et consurget virga de Israel. |
℣. A Star shall arise from Jacob. ℟. And a rod shall spring up from Israel. |
| Oremus. Dulcissimum Mariæ Nomen invocantibus servulis per te, Regina clemens, gratiæ suæ munera largiatur Jesus Christus Filius tuus, qui cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit et regnat Deus per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen. |
Let us pray. O Most Clement Queen, may thy Son, Jesus Christ, grant to those that call upon the sweetest name of Mary, to thy little servants, His gifts of grace through thee: He Who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, through all ages of ages. Amen. |
This antiphon has a number of scriptural references. First is referenced Numbers 24:17: “I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not near. A STAR SHALL RISE out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel…”
The phrase stella splendida et matutina comes from Apocalypse 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel, to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star (stella splendida et matutina).”
Mary is the star that leads to Christ, like the Star of Epiphany. She is the herald of the Bright and Morning Star, the Star of Jacob. Let us allow Mary to lead us to Christ.
If you would like a help to prepare yourself for this coming feast, perhaps you might like to listen to our recording of each of the O Antiphons we sang at Vespers starting on 31 August.
