The antiphons that prepare us for the Feast of the Nativity as the O Antiphons, since each of Isaiah’s seven prophetic names for Christ begins with an invocational “O.” These antiphons were probably first arranged by Benedictine monks 1,500 years ago, and they were certainly in regular use by the time of Charlemagne in the 8th century. Despite many trials and tribulations, Christians still recite or chant them immediately prior to the Magnificat