Antiphona 3

The abbreviated form 'In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum' at Vespers focuses solely on the universal reach of apostolic preaching. The perfect tense 'exivit' (has gone forth) treats the apostolic mission as an accomplished fact - the sound has already reached all lands through the first generation's witness. Yet the daily repetition of this antiphon reminds the Church that this accomplished mission requires continual appropriation: each generation must receive anew what the Apostles proclaimed. At evening prayer, this text looks back on the day's labors as participation in the Apostles' ongoing proclamation.