Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

One of my favourite pieces to play and sing is Oh Come All Ye Faithful, also known as Adeste Fideles.  This carol was first written in Latin and since I took Latin in high school, I always enjoy singing at least the first or second verse in Latin.

Oh Come All Ye Faithful or Adeste Fideles is one of the most beautifully written of all the Christmas Carols. Its origin is a mystery, but scholars believe the song is at least 250 years old. 

Some say King John IV of Portugal (1604-1656) who was called the musician-king composed this song.  King John IV composed a number of musical works during his reign and compiled one of the world’s largest musical libraries.  Other historians say John Francis Wade (1711-1786), the English hymnist, is the true author of the carol. 

The earliest versions of Adeste Fideles are all in Latin and the English-language version that most people know today was translated in 1841 by Frederick Oakeley, a British Catholic priest.  Both versions have eight verses but I am going to share the first verse in both Latin and English.

“Oh Come All Ye Faithful”

         Oh come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

         Oh come ye, Oh come ye, to Bethlehem

         Come and behold Him, born the King of angels: 

Refrain

        Oh come let us adore Him

        Oh come let us adore Him

        Oh come let us adore Him

        Christ, the Lord.

Adeste Fideles - Latin Lyrics

        Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,

        Venite, venite in Bethlehem.

        Natum videte, Regen Angelorum:

Refrain

        Venite, adoremus,

        Venite, adoremus,

        Venite, adoremus

        Dominum! 

This verse is calling us to come to Bethlehem.  Have you ever been to Bethlehem?  I have.

While I was teaching in Kuwait, I had the chance to visit Bethlehem.  We went through security and found our way to Manger Square.  On another trip to Israel, this time to play in an International Handbell Festival, our bus tour took us into Bethlehem another way.  We stopped at a curio shop and then walked up towards the Church of the Nativity and again came out in Manger Square. 

When I sing or play Oh Come All Ye Faithful, I am reminded of my trips to the Holy Land and especially my time spent in Bethlehem.

Have a great day everyone.  BTW, I tell more about my trips to Bethlehem in my Travelling Tuesdays book.

# living life abundantly  # published author  # travelling tuesdays