Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Veníte, veníte in Bethlehem.
Natum vidéte, Regem Angelorum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
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.
The second verse reflects the Nicene Creed. Christ is "God from God, Light from Light...Begotten, not made."
Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine,
gestant puellae viscera
Deum verum, genitum non factum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Is it fitting that the angels should not sing the praises of their King?
Cantet nunc io chorus Angelórum
cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Here the nature of Christ as the Word of God is emphasized. The Incarnation is once again expounded in song.
Ergo qui natus, die hodierna
Jesu, tibi sit glória
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing.
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Will we have the humility to leave all that we have behind to seek the King of Kings?
En grege relicto, Humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant;
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Christ's divine nature is again emphasized, together with the unexpectedness of the Incarnation.
Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem, pannis involutum.
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
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;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Jesus Christ, by descending infinitely to be man born in a manger, allows us the opportunity to arise.
Pro nobis egenum Et foeno cubantem,
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos anamtem quis non redamaret?
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
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?
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
What gifts will we bring the Christ child this Christmas? Will we go to Christmas Mass and offer a few more dollars than usual in the collection plate? The Magi give all they have to Christ. Let us do the same.
Stella duce, Magi, Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera;
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus.
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum.
Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
His Servant and Yours,
Micah
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Thank you for including the Latin with the English! One of my favorite things about this hymn is how simple the Latin is, especially considering how profound is the meaning behind it!
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