O Come, All Ye Faithful
For Christmas
Words: Adeste Fideles, John Francis Wade (c. 1711/2-1786), circa 1743/4
Translator: Frederick Oakely, 1852
First published in F. H. Murray's A Hymnal for Use in
the English Church.
Oakeley's 1841 Translation:
Ye Faithful,
Approach Ye
Other Translations:
Adeste, Fideles
Translations
Music: "Adeste fideles"
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Additional Music from Thomas Helmore and Thomas Morley, eds., Music of the
Appendix to the Hymnal Noted. (Novello, Ewer & Co., No Date, ca. 1870),
Tune #123, p. 132.
Source: Louis F. Benson and Alfred Reginald Allen, eds., The Hymnal (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1911), #173.
1. O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels;
Chorus:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
2. God of God,
Light of Light;
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb:
Very God,
Begotten, not created; Chorus.
3. Sing, choirs of angels;
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest; Chorus.
4. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning:
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Late in flesh appearing; Chorus.
Also found in John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore, eds., The Hymnal Noted With Appendix, Revised and Greatly Enlarged, and Supplement. Tenth Edition. (London: J. Masters & Co., 1889), #123, p. 132, with the following differences:
-
St. 4, L. 5. "Now in flesh appearing."
Sheet Music: Louis F. Benson and Alfred Reginald Allen, eds., The Hymnal (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1911), #173.
Sheet Music from Thomas Helmore and Thomas Morley, eds., Music of the Appendix to the Hymnal Noted. (Novello, Ewer & Co., No Date, ca. 1870), #123, p. 132.
Note:
According to the Title Page, this hymnal was published in 1895 and revised in 1911. It also contained the supplement of 1917, and was published in 1919.
Also published in William Henry Monk, ed., Hymns, Ancient and Modern (London: Novello and Co., 1861), #42, in 4 stanzas with sheet music. And it appeared in the prototype to H.A.M., "Hymns" (1859), #18, pp. 13-14, 4 verses without music.
Notes from Rev. Matthew Britt, O.S.B., Hymns from the Breviary and Missal (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., 1922), pp. 105-106.
Author unknown. 18th cent. Translation [of O Come, All Ye Faithful] by Canon Oakeley. There are forty translations. The complete hymn consists of eight stanzas, four of which are commonly used at Benediction during Christmastide. There are four translations of this hymn in Mr. Shipley's Annus Sanctus; the one by J. C. Earle is a translation of the complete hymn. The Adeste Fideles is not found in the Breviary or Missal. It is a beautiful invitation to the faithful "to come to Bethlehem" in spirit, and worship the new-born Saviour.
"With the exception of the Dies iræ and the Stabat Mater," says W. J. Grattan-Flood, Mus.D., "it is doubtful if there is a more popular hymn in our churches than the Adeste Fideles" (The Dolphin, Dec, 1905). The above translation is literal. In line 15, Io is an interjection expressing great joy. Line 17, aula cœlestium, the court of the blessed, the heavenly court.
Translations on this site are found on Adeste, Fideles Translations.
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