Rachel Evans
O Come, All Ye Faithful, also known as Adeste Fideles, is a Christmas carol that has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade, John Reading, King John IV of Portugal, and anonymous Cistercian monks. The hymn's original lyrics are an almost-verbatim expression of Roman Catholic dogmas regarding Jesus Christ, and it draws heavily upon the Nicene Creed. The Latin text comes from the Roman Catholic tradition, found in an 18th-century manuscript in the College at Douai, France. The English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated the hymn into English in 1841, and it became widespread in English-speaking countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Latin |
| Original Author | Unknown, but generally recognised as John Francis Wade |
| Other Attributions | John Reading, King John IV of Portugal, Cistercian Monks |
| Translator | Frederick Oakeley |
| Original Number of Verses | 4 |
| Number of Verses in English Translation | 8 |
| Refrain | "O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord" |
| First Printed By | John Francis Wade |
| Earliest Manuscript | 1743 |
| Earliest Printed Version | 1852 |
| Original Text Found In | 18th-century manuscript in the College at Douai |
| Original Text Published By | Stonyhurst College, Lancashire |
| Date Published | 1751 |
| Original Text Written In | Roman Catholic Dogma |
| Original Text Based On | Bible Verses and the Nicene Creed |
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What You'll Learn
The hymn's Catholic origins
"O Come, All Ye Faithful", also known as "Adeste Fideles", is a Christmas carol with Catholic origins. The hymn's exact sources and origins remain unproven, but there is universal agreement among musicologists that it was first associated with the 18th-century Catholic layman and music copyist John Francis Wade. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743.
Wade, an English Catholic, apparently moved to France due to discrimination against Catholics in 18th-century England, especially after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. The rebellion attempted to restore a Catholic monarch, Charles Edward Stuart, known informally as "Bonnie Prince Charlie", to the throne of England. The hymn's original Latin lyrics contain the title "Regem Angelorum", which translates to "King of Angels". Proponents of the theory that the hymn was written in support of the Jacobite rising interpret this as a reference to the English king, Charles, who would have been the "King of Angels" as well as the king of England.
The hymn's text draws heavily on the Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of belief widely used in liturgy, and the Bible. Irish musicologist William H. Grattan Flood concluded that the words and music of the song "go back to the first quarter of the 18th century, and are to be attributed to a Catholic source and for Catholic worship". The hymn's content, which expresses Roman Catholic dogmas regarding the person of Jesus Christ, and its presence in liturgical books near prayers for the would-be king in exile, further support its Catholic origins.
The English language translation of stanzas one, two, three, and six is the work of Frederick Oakeley, an Anglican priest who later became a Catholic. Oakeley's stanzas were penned in 1841 and first appeared in F.H. Murray's Hymnal for Use in the English Church in 1852. Abbé Etienne Jean François Borderies translated three additional stanzas, of which four and five are included in the UM Hymnal. Oakeley's translation, which began with the words "O come, all ye faithful/ Joyfully triumphant", soon became "Joyful and triumphant".
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Translations of the hymn
The hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful", also known as "Adeste Fideles", is a Christmas carol that has been translated into many languages. The original text was written in Latin and has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (or John F. Wade), John Reading, King John IV of Portugal, and anonymous Cistercian monks. The earliest printed version is in a book published by Wade, and a manuscript by him dating to 1751 is held by Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.
The English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated the hymn into English in 1841 as "O Come, All Ye Faithful", which became widespread in English-speaking countries. Oakeley's translation first appeared in F.H. Murray's Hymnal for Use in the English Church in 1852 under the title "Let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass." (Luke 2:15) Abbé Etienne Jean François Borderies, inspired by the hymn, translated three additional stanzas, of which four and five are included in the UM Hymnal.
Other translations and alterations of the hymn include:
- "Hither Ye Faithful, Haste with Songs of Triumph", which appeared in an 1860 collection of Sacred Harp songs.
- "Herbei, o ihr Gläub'gen", a German translation of the Latin text published in 1823 by Friedrich Heinrich Ranke.
- "Draw Nigh, All Ye Faithful" by J. Ellerton, written for and first published in Church Hymns in 1871.
- "Assemble, Ye Faithful" by T. Darling, published in his Hymns for the Church of England in 1861.
- "Hither, Ye Faithful, Haste with Songs of Triumph", published in the American Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns Philadelphia in 1843.
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The hymn's authors
"O Come, All Ye Faithful", also known as "Adeste Fideles", is a Christmas carol that has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (1711–1786), John Reading (1645–1692), King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656), and anonymous Cistercian monks. The earliest printed version is in a book published by Wade. A manuscript by Wade, dating to 1751, is held by Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. The original four verses of the hymn were extended to a total of eight, and these have been translated into many languages.
John Francis Wade (b. England, c. 1711; d. Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of this hymn, originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743. By the early nineteenth century, however, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers. A Roman Catholic, Wade apparently moved to France because of discrimination against Roman Catholics in eighteenth-century England—especially so after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
Methodist hymnologist Fred Gealy notes: “Seven manuscripts containing the Latin hymn are known; they are dated 1743-61. All appear to have been written, signed, and dated by John Francis Wade, an Englishman who made his living by copying and selling plainchant and other music.” Research by Dom John Stéphan, author of The Adeste Fidelis: A Study of Its Origin and Development (1947), has determined that the first and original manuscript was dated in 1743, indicating that Wade composed both the Latin words and the music between 1740 and 1743.
In 1841, the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated the hymn into English as "O Come All Ye Faithful", which became widespread in English-speaking countries. The English language translation of stanzas one, two, three and six is the work of Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880), a translator of Latin hymns during the Oxford movement who worked closely with Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890), a leader in the movement. Oakeley became a Roman Catholic and was known for his ministry to the poor at Westminster Abbey. Oakeley’s stanzas, penned in 1841, first appeared in F.H. Murray’s Hymnal for Use in the English Church (1852) under the title “Let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.” (Luke 2:15)
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The hymn's structure
"O Come, All Ye Faithful", also known as "Adeste Fideles", is a Christmas carol that has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade, John Reading, King John IV of Portugal, and anonymous Cistercian monks. The hymn's structure consists of several stanzas or verses that have been translated and adapted over time.
The original version of the hymn was written in Latin and consisted of four stanzas. The English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated these original four verses into English in 1841, and his version became widespread in English-speaking countries. Oakeley's translation first appeared in Murray's Hymnal in 1852 and is the most common version used today.
By the early 19th century, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers, bringing the total number of verses to eight. These additional stanzas were also translated and adapted by various individuals, including Abbé Etienne Jean François Borderies, who translated stanzas four and five of the UM Hymnal to fill out the Christmas story.
The hymn typically includes a refrain with a fugal feel, where voices enter staggered until all four parts join in the imperative: "O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord." This refrain can be sung as a call to worship throughout the year and is often followed by repeated lines such as "We'll praise his name forever" and "We'll give him all the glory."
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The hymn's performance
"O Come, All Ye Faithful", also known as "Adeste Fideles", is a Christmas carol that is often performed as a hymn. The original text of the hymn has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (1711–1786), John Reading (1645–1692), King John IV of Portugal (1604–1656), and anonymous Cistercian monks. The earliest printed version of the hymn was published by Wade, and the original four verses were written in Latin. Over time, four additional verses were added by other writers, and the hymn has since been translated into numerous languages.
The English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley translated the hymn into English in 1841, and it became widespread in English-speaking countries. Oakeley's translation is the most popular arrangement of the hymn, and it first appeared in Murray's Hymnal in 1852. The hymn has also been translated by other notable figures, including William Thomas Brooke and Abbé Etienne Jean François Borderies.
The hymn "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is typically performed during the Christmas season. It is often sung at the beginning of a Christmas Day service or at the end of a Christmas Eve service as a hymn of anticipation and excitement. The refrain of the hymn, "O Come, let us adore him", is particularly memorable and can be sung as a call to worship throughout the year. The hymn is well-suited for choir performances and can be accompanied by various instruments, although its simple melody and beautiful harmonies also make it suitable for light instrumentation and dominant vocals.
In terms of the structure of the hymn, it is worth noting that it has an unrhymed and irregular meter. The hymn typically includes four to eight verses, and in performance, certain verses may be omitted or altered depending on the occasion. For example, the eighth anonymous verse is usually only sung on Epiphany, and the last verse is often reserved for Christmas Midnight Mass.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is a Christmas hymn that was originally written in Latin as 'Adeste Fideles' by John Francis Wade, a Catholic layman and music copyist. The English translation, written by the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley in 1841, is the most commonly used version today.
'O Come All Ye Faithful' invites God's faithful people to go to Bethlehem and adore Christ the Lord. The hymn also includes references to the Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of belief widely used in liturgy.
The exact origins of the hymn remain uncertain, but it is believed to have been written in the 18th century. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated around 1743, and by the early 19th century, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers. The hymn has since been translated into many languages and is now widely popular in English-speaking countries.
