Antiphona 3

This antiphon proclaims the sevenfold doxology of Apocalypse 7:12: benedictio (blessing), claritas (glory), sapientia (wisdom), gratiarum actio (thanksgiving), honor, virtus (power), and fortitudo (strength). The accumulation is not redundancy but completeness - the Church offers God every possible category of praise. The phrase 'in saecula saeculorum' (unto ages of ages) indicates the eternal duration of this praise: what we begin imperfectly at Lauds, we shall continue perfectly forever. The number seven signifies completion (the days of creation, the gifts of the Spirit), suggesting that heavenly worship lacks nothing. At morning prayer, this antiphon challenges the soul to move beyond petition to pure doxology - blessing God not for what He gives, but for what He is.