O Come, All Ye Faithful

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that happened which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15 

This hymn is one of the universal favorite Christmas songs. It was used in Catholic churches before it became known to Protestants. Today it is sung by church groups around the world and has been translated from its original Latin into more than 100 other languages. The vivid imagery of the carol seems to have meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture. 

The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first stanza calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem’s stable. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ-child is very God Himself:

God of God and Light of Light begotten, Lo, He abhors not the Virgins womb; Very God, begotten, not created --- O come, let us adore Him.

The third stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds.  The fourth stanza offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time. 

For many years this hymn was known as an anonymous Latin hymn. Recent research, however, has revealed manuscripts that indicate it was written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade and set to music by him in much the same style as used today. The hymn first appeared in his collection Cantus Diversi, published in England in 1751. One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by an Anglican minister, Rrederick Oakely, who desired to use it for his congregation.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” --- Matthew 2:1-2

As we celebrate this Christmas I pray that God will help us make this Christmas season the most spiritual one yet.  May we worship Him --- Christ, the Lord!