Day 21

On Saturdays and Sundays during Advent, we are focussing on playing some Christmas carols that we have recorded during our services in recent years and finding out what they’re actually all about.

O come, all ye faithful

The version of O Come All Ye Faithful that we sing today was actually written in the 18th century by an English guy called John Francis Wade. Wade was a Catholic who had fled England because of religious persecution. He eventually settled in France, where he composed this famous carol.

The original version of the song was in Latin, called Adeste Fideles. The song initially had four verses but was extended to eight as the song became translated around the world. The English translation of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" by the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley, written in 1841, is widespread in most English-speaking countries.

When we take a look at the lyrics of O Come All Ye Faithful, it's easy to see why the song is such a Classic Christmas carol. The words are simple and direct, and they capture the excitement and joy of Christmas, celebrating the birth of baby Jesus. But if we dig a little deeper, we can see that there is more to the song than just an upbeat song. There are verses that give powerful statements of faith and commitment in Jesus, who is the light of the world and that we join with continuous worship in heaven with the angels, as we celebrate Jesus’ birth.

LYRICS

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.

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

God of God, Light of light,
Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten not created:

Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: