Antiphona 1

This antiphon draws from Apocalypse 7:9, the vision of St. John beholding the heavenly liturgy. The 'turba magna' (great multitude) represents the communion of saints triumphant - those who have passed through the purifying fire and now stand 'ante thronum' before the throne of the Lamb. The enumeration 'ex omnibus gentibus' (from all nations) affirms the universal scope of redemption against any limitation of salvation to a particular people. At Lauds, as the Church begins her day's prayer, she contemplates not her earthly limitations but her heavenly destiny - the eschatological assembly toward which all baptized souls are journeying. The innumerability of the blessed ('quam dinumerare nemo poterat') stands as encouragement to those still in via: the seats in heaven are not scarce.