Did you even celebrate Christmas if you didn't sing along to Adeste Fideles? This melodious hymn takes you to a serene place - being in the presence of Jesus and experiencing His almighty power. Translating to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" in English, the Christmas carol extends the true spirit of the holiday season.
However, have you ever wondered about the meaning behind these Latin lyrics? Or where did Adeste Fideles originate from? Let us find answers to these questions!
Written lyrics
In the original Latin verses, the text goes something like:
Adeste, fideles, laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
Parturit virgo mater,
Deum verum, genitum, non factum.
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
Cantet nunc hymnos chorus angelorum,
Cantet nunc aula caelestium
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo;
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
Ergo qui natus die hodierna,
Iesu, tibi sit gloria
Patris aeterni verbum caro factum:
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus, Dominum.
The English translation of Adeste Fideles is:
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;
Refrain
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; (refrain)
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
Glory to God, glory in the highest!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesu, to Thee be glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze.
We too will thither bend our hearts’ oblations;
There shall we see Him, His eternal Father’s
everlasting brightness now veiled under flesh.
God shall we find there, a Babe in infant clothing;
Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger,
we would embrace Thee, with love and awe.
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
Lo! Star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
offer Him frankincense, gold, and myrrh.
We to the Christ-child, bring our hearts oblations;
Printable lyrics
Print this Christmas carol for your Christmas decoration or as a part of your child's room. Find the printable version here.
Photo lyrics
Video links
Sing along to the hymn with amazing graphics and catchy tunes this Christmas season!
Origins and history
The origin of Adeste Fideles is very ambiguous, and the authorship has been attributed to several people, including John Francis Wade, John Reading, King John IV of Portugal, and unknown Cistercian monks. Even amongst the monks, the German, Portuguese or Spanish provinces have had disputes regarding the accreditation.
The English translation's authorship is, however, always given to John Francis Wade since his name appears first on the publication in 1751. He was a copyist who made a compilation of manuscripts called Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis et Festis per annum. It was under it that Adeste Fideles made its first publicized appearance.
The initial version compiled by Wade only contained the first four Latin verses. It was only in the latter part of the 18th century that Jean-François-Étienne Borderies, a French Catholic priest, added the next three additional verses.
There have been innumerable translations through the years, but the common version is a culmination of Frederick Oakeley and William Thomas Brooke.
FAQ
"Adeste Fideles" literally translates to come, faithful ones or O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Adeste Fideles narrates the Luke 2:15 of the Bible. It tells about the part when Angels descended in front of the shepherds and sang the praises of God because of Jesus, the savior, birth in the manger in Bethlehem. Once the Angels go back, the shepherds go to Bethlehem to find the baby.
While the Bible narration invites the shepherds to locate the baby, this Church song invites all of God's faithful to find Jesus. It is a way to inspire individuals to follow the path of righteousness, as shown by Him. We can achieve salvation by devoting ourselves to His presence, being grateful for His sacrifices, and fulfilling His wish to establish God's kingdom.
The tune and composition of Adeste Fideles are credited to John Francis Wade.
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