# A Dictionary of Hymnology/Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes

​Adeste fideles laeti triumphantes. [Christmas.] As to the authorship and actual date of this hymn nothing positive is known. It has been ascribed to St. Bonaventura, but is found in no edition of his Works. Most probably it is a hymn of the 17th or 18th century, and of French or German authorship. The text appears in three forms. The first is in 8 st., the second, that in use in France, and the third the English use, both in Latin and English. The full text from Thesaurus Animae Christianae, Mechlin, N.D. (where it is given as a second sequence for Christmas and said to be "Ex Graduali Cisterciensi") is:—
1.Adeste, fideles, Laeti triumphantes; Venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte Regem Angelorum: Venite adoremus Dominum.
2.Deum de Deo;
Lumen de Lumine,
Gestant puellae viscera
Deum Verum,
Genitum non factum:
Venite adoremus Dominum.
3.En grego relicto,
Humiles ad cunas,
Vocati pastores approperant.
El nos ovanti
Gradu festinemus,
Venite adoremus Dominum.
4.Stellâ duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, thus, et myrrham, dant munera.
Jesu infanti
Corda praebeamus:
Venite adoremus Dominum.
5.Aeterni Parentis
Splendorem Aeternum,
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem,
Pannis involutum,
Venite adoremus Dominum.
6.Pro nobis egenum
Et foeno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus;
Sic nos amantem
Quis non гedameret?
Venite adoremus Dominum.
7.Cantet nunc hymnos, Chorus Angelorum:
Cantet nunc aula celestium,
Gloria
In excelsis Deo!
Venite adoremus Dominum.
8.Ergo Qui natus
Die hodiernâ,
Jesu Tibi sit gloria:
Patris Aeterni
Verbum Caro factum! Venite adoremus Dominum
In the English and French centos there are various readings; but we need only note three—st. v., l. 1, Patris for "Parentis"; st. vii., l. 1, Io for "hymnos"; and rarely, exultans, for "nunc hymnos"; st. viii., l. 2. hodierno, for "hodiernâ:" and of these the second is probably the original text. The English cento is composed of st. i., ii, vii. and viii., and the French, generally of st. i, iii., v., vi., and, very rarely, st. iv. also. Towards the close of the last century it was sung both in England and in France at Benediction during Christmastide. As early as 1797 the hymn was sung at the Chapel of the Portuguese Embassy, of which Vincent Novello was organist, and the tune (ascribed by Novello to John Reading, organist of Winchester Cathedral, 1675–1681, and of the College to 1692) at once became popular. The use of the French cento may be gathered from the following rubric from the Nouveau Paroissien Nantais, Nautes, 1837:—
Aux Fêtes de Noël.
(Response.) Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite adoremus Dominum.
Les Chantres continuent: Adeste, fideles, etc.; et on répète à chaque strophe: Venite, etc.
The hymn was so familiar that it is not printed in full.
Translations in C. U.:—
1. Come, faithful all, rejoice and sing. Anon. in 4 st. of 5 l. in Every Families Assistant at Compline, Benediction, &c., 1789. Somewhat altered it was republished in G. L. Haydock's Coll, of Catholic Hys., 1823. In the Vespers: or, Evening Office of the Church, Dublin, 1808, it appeared as "Ye faithful souls, rejoice and sing." This is in use in a few Roman Catholic collections for Missions and Schools. In the Crown of Jesus H. Bk., it reads, "Ye faithful, come, rejoice and sing."
2. Ye faithful, approach ye. By F. Oakeley. This is a tr. of the English form of the Latin text. It was written in 1841 for the use of the congregation of Margaret Street Chapel, London, of which he was then the Incumbent. It was ​never published by the translator, but came into notice by being sung in his chapel. The original text was included in the People's H., 1867, No. 24, the Wellington College H. Bk., 1863, &c., and has also been repeated in several Roman Catholic collections of recent date.
3. O come all ye faithful, joyfully triumphant. This form of Canon Oakeley's tr. is the most popular arrangement of the Adeste fideles we possess. It first appeared in Murray's Hymnal, 1852, and has passed from thence into a great number of collections both in G. Britain and other English-speaking countries, the second line sometimes reading "Joyful and triumphant,' and again "Rejoicing, triumphant." The Parish H. Bk., 1883–75, adopts this latter reading, and in addition it includes other alterations of importance.
4. Be present, ye faithful. In Chope's Hymnal, 1854, and later editions, is Canon Oakeley's tr. re-written.
5. Approach, all ye faithful. This tr. by "C" in the Irvingite Hys. for the Use of the Churches, 1861, dates from 1845. Another tr. heginning with the same Erst line, was included in the Cooke and Denton Hymnal, 1853. It can be distinguished easily from the Irvingite tr. by st. iv. This reads in Cooke and Denton, The Son Everlasting," and in the Irvingite collections, "To Thee, who on this joyous day," &c.
6. O come, all ya faithful, triumphantly sing. By E. Caswall, 1st pub. in his Lyra Cuthotion, 1849, p. 250, and in his ys, and Poems, 1873, p. 146. This tr, is in several collections, and sometimes slightly altered, as in the New Mitre, 1874, and others.
7. Come hither, ye faithful. This, as given in Schall's Christ in Song, 1870, p. 37; and the Prot. Episco. Hymnal, 1872, is E. Caswall's tr. with alterations.
8. O come, all ye faithful. By W. Mercer. This fr. can be distinguished from others beginning with the same first fine by the st. iii., which reads, "Raise, raise, choir of angels," &c. It was written for and first appeared in his Ch. Pauller und H. Bk., 1854. In popularity it ranks next to the tr. by Canon Oakeley, being found in many collections throughout Englishspeaking countries.
9. Be present, ye faithful. By J. M. Neale. Pub. in the Hymnal N., enlarged ed., 1858. Although opening with the same line it is a different tr. from that in Chope's Ilymaal, noted above. The second stanza of Chope reads: "Very God of Very God," and this "God of God, eternal."
10. O come, all ye faithful. Two trs. by J. A. Julmston are given in his inglish Hymnal, the first (with st. ii, "He, God of God," &c.) in 1852, the second (st. ii., "Who God of God is ") in 2nd ed., 1856, and 3rd ed., 1861.
11. Draw nigh, all ye faithful. This is Dr. Neale's tr. re-written by J. Keble for the Salisbury H. B., 1857. It was repeated in Kennedy, 1863, and, with sight changes, in the Sarum H., 1868.
12. O come, all ye faithful. By J. Ellerton, written for, and first pub. in Church Hys., 1871, It may be known by st. iv., which opens with Thou, who didst deign to be born for us this morning."
13. Draw near, all ye faithful. By R. C. Singleton, in the revised ed, of his Anglican H. Bi, 1971.
14. Assemble, ye faithful. By T. Darling, in his IIys. for the Ch. of England, 1861.
15. O come, all ye faithful. This arrangement in the Westminster Abbey II. Bk., 1884, is a cento compiled from the above trs.
16. Hither, ye faithful, haste with songs of triumph. In the American l'resb. Ps. & Hys. Philadelphia, 1843, No. 174.
These trs. have as a rule much in commou. The greatest variety is found in the rendering of the lines in st. ii., "Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine." These are:-
God of God, light of light. Oakeley. True God of God, true Light of Light. Irvingite Coll. True Son of the Father. E. Caswell. He God of God, Tight of Light Eternal. . A. Johnston. God of God eternal, Light from Light proceeding. J. M. Neale. True God of True God, True Light of True Light. Cooke & Denton. Very Gud of Very God, Light of Light Eternal, Chope's Hymnal. Though true God of true God, Light of Light Etcrnal, W. Mercer. Who God of God is, Light of Light Eternal. J. A. Johnston. Ged-head of God-head, True Light of the True Light. Gainsburgh Coll. Godbead of Godhead, True light of True light. Dr. Trons. Ged of God Almighty, light of Light Eternal, Sarun Hymnal. Ile, God of God, and Light of Light begotten. J. Allerton. True God of True God, Light of Light Eternal. Thring's Cull. Though God of true God, Light of Light Eternal. Irish Church. Hymnal. For lle, Gort of find, He, Light of Light eternal. A. C. Singletum, 1871.
These renderings show clearly that the majority of the translators had the Nicene Creed and not the Adeste fideles in their minds as they wrote. This is also the case with those trs. which are not in C. U.
Translations not in C. U.-
1. Draw near, ye faithful Christians. Beening Office of the Church, 1760.
2. Ye faithful, come triumphant, come. Orthodon Churchman's Magazine and Reviews, Non, 1805.
3. Raise we our voices to the Lord of Glory. Ashbourne Coll., Lttoxeter, 1808.
4. Believers assemble, come with songs to Bethiem. Dr. Sutton's P8. & Hys,, hemeld, 1807.
6. Ya faithful, triumphant enter into Bethlehem. Ps. &ys. Burnley, 1820.
6. O come, all ye faithful, Joyful triumph raising, Basil Woodd. Ps. & Hys., 1821.
7. With hearts truly grateful. Ps. & Dye. Wash ington, 1830.
3. 0 come, ye faithful, and your homage bring. J. Chandler, 1837.
9. O come, all ye faithful, raise the lyron of glory, 1. C. Husesbetin's Missal for Tse of the Losty (3rd ed.), 1840.
10. Ye faithful souls, approach and sing. J. Meade. Sstwood Wreath, 1841. 11. Approach, ye faithful, come with esultation. Jane E. Leeson, Christian Child's Bk., 1840,
12. Approach, ye faithful, and with glad accord. Jane E. Leeson. Christian Child's Bk., 1849.
13. O basten, ye faithful. J. R. Beete Church Hys. 1849,
​14. O come, all ye faithful. G. Rorison. Hys. & Anthems, 1851.
15. O come, all ye faithful. R. Campbell. St. Andrew's Hymnal, 1850.
16. Ye faithful, approach ye. W. J. Blew. Church H. & Tune Bk., 1852.
17. O Christian people, come. I. Gregory Smith. H. Bk. for the Service of the Church. 1855.
18. Exulting triumphant, come from every nation. Anon. Guernsey. Reprinted in Notes & Queries, 5th Ser. xi. p. 418.
19. O hie, ye believers, raise the song of triumph. F. Trappes, 1865.
20. Come, all ye faithful, joyfully. Anon. in J. F. Thrupp's Ps. & Hys., 1853.
21. In triumph, joy, and holy fear, J. C. Earle. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.
22. Come, O faithful, with sweet voice. C. Kent. Shipley's Annus Sanctus, 1884.