How ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ Connects Christians Today to 8th Century Believers
By Movieguide® Contributor
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a beloved Christmas carol, but do you know the history behind the song?
The carol was originally written in Latin, titled, “Veni, Veni Emmanuel.”
According to ClassicFM, the English translation didn’t come until 1851 “when priest and scholar John Mason Neale’s version featured in the pages of The Hymnal Noted – a key text in the history of hymns collected by hymnal documenter Thomas Helmore.”
Neale also wrote the lyrics to “Good King Wenceslas,” “Good Christian Men, Rejoice” and “All Glory, Laud and Honor.”
“Neale longed to return the Church to its liturgical roots and was known for translating ancient Greek and Latin hymns into English,” UMC reported, explaining his interest in the ancient hymn.
What makes “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” unique is that the Emmanuel of the title is referring to “the Hebrew ‘Immanuel’ which appears in the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament more as a sign of God’s protection than an actual person.”
The lyrics were written in the 19th century, but “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”’s music dates back to the 8th or 9th century.
“Seven days before Christmas Eve monasteries would sing the ‘O antiphons’ in anticipation of Christmas Eve when the eighth antiphon, ‘O Virgo virginum’ (“O Virgin of virgins”) would be sung before and after Mary’s canticle, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46b-55),” Discipleship Ministries wrote.
They continued, “The ‘O Emmanuel’ antiphon was traditionally sung on the night before Christmas Eve.”
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”’s melody has been around for centuries, which means its composer has been lost to history. However, it wasn’t until Neale translated and popularized the lyrics that the hymn became a Christmas favorite.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, the story of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a wonderful reminder of our connections to the Christians who came before us.
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