O Come, All Ye Faithful

The Story Behind O Come, All Ye Faithful

"O Come, All Ye Faithful" is an adaptation of a Latin hymn Adeste Fidelis. The exact origins of the original hymn are not known, but it was most likely composed by John Francis Wade in the middle of the eighteenth century. The Latin version, or at least the first two words, meaning "come you faithful ones," is recognizable to some of us today, partially because it has been covered by people like Andrea Bocelli, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole. The most well-known English translation was done by Frederick Oakeley in 1852.

The encouragement to “come, all ye faithful, . . . to Bethlehem” situates the singer both among the shepherds who rushed to see Christ and in the great continuation of the “faithful” that have traveled to Bethlehem in a spiritual nature for over 2,000 years.

Although today, we cannot actually witness Jesus in the manger, we can come to Bethlehem in a symbolic sense. We can be there in our imaginations as we allow the Christmas story to hearten our spirits.

Collection of Popular Christmas Hymns and Carols:

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The First Noel
Joy To The World
O Holy Night
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
Go Tell It On The Mountain
What Child Is This
O Little Town of Bethlehem
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Ave Maria