O Clavis David (O Key of David - Dec 20th)

Today's great O antiphon is "O Clavis David" - O Key of David. This title for Jesus comes again from Isaiah (Isaiah 22:22 and others).

"I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open."

Christ has the keys to go anywhere and deliver anyone.  In researching this, I was surprisingly lead to a page on this antiphon by Deacon Chris with the icon of Christ's descent into hell, or 'The Harrowing of Hell'.  The Catechism says the following:

634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead."483 The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

635 Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."484 Jesus, "the Author of life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."485 Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."486

IN BRIEF

636 By the expression "He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14).

637 In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him.

483 I Pt 4:6.
482 Cf. Council of Rome (745): DS 587; Benedict XII, Cum dudum (1341): DS 1011; Clement VI, Super quibusdam (1351): DS 1077; Council of Toledo IV (625): DS 485; Mt 27:52-53.
485 Heb 2:14-15; cf. Acts 3:15.
486 Rev 1:18; Phil 2:10.

Christ has the power (keys) to save all souls and He desires that each of these souls spend eternity at peace in Heaven. He 'descended to the dead' and saved the Holy souls that had left this world prior to his coming. He entrusted this power to the Church on earth when he said to Peter "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19. He calls us to true sorrow and contrition for our sins and to live in holiness. We receive this forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation which he entrusted to the Church.

Lord Jesus, Key of David, let me never despair of or doubt your mercy or power to forgive my sins when I have gone astray.

O Clavis David

O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens: come, and lead the prisoner from jail. seated in darkness and in the shadow of death. .

* * *

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Come Emmanuel Verse O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav'nly home, make safe the way that leads on high, that we no more have cause to sigh. Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Veni, Clavis Davidica, regna reclude caelica, fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum.  Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel  Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Photo: http://deaconchris.com/2008/12/20/o-antiphons-key-of-david-dec-20/