"O Come All Ye Faithful" ("Adeste Fideles")

Although there are contradictory accounts of the song's origins, "O Come All Ye Faithful" was most probably written by John Francis Wade in around 1743. Originally penned in Latin (as "Adeste Fideles"), it has been suggested that the song was a coded tribute to the Jacobite pretender to the English (close to Angels) throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie.

"Adeste Fideles" gained great popularity in the English Catholic community and extra Latin verses were added to Wade's original four. Many translations of "Adeste Fideles" have been rendered in English as "O Come All Ye Faithful, often with some of the verses omitted. This is a commonly used version:

"O Come All Ye Faithful" 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.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,

Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;

Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;

O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Refrain

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,

Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;

We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

Refrain

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,

Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;

We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

Refrain

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?

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Refrain

"O Come All Ye Faithful remains a much-loved Christmas carol, performed by pop stars and church choirs alike.
Here is a classic choral version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" by the choir of King's College, Cambridge:


Irish vocal artist Enya performing "Adeste Fideles" in the original Latin: