The Birth of Christ

Representative Text

1 Hither, ye faithful, haste in songs of triumph,
To Bethlehem go, the Lord of life to meet;
To you this day is born a Prince and Saviour:
Oh, come, and let us worship at his feet!

2 O Jesus, for such wondrous condescension,
Our praise and reverence are an offering meet;
Now is the Word made flesh, and dwells among us;
Oh, come, and let us worship at his feet!

3 Shout his almighty name, ye choirs of angels:
Let the celestial courts his praise repeat;
Unto our God be glory in the highest;
Oh, come, and let us worship at his feet!

Source: The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #153

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Author: John Francis Wade

John Francis Wade (b. England, c. 1711; d. Douay, France, 1786) is now generally recognized as both author and composer of the hymn "Adeste fideles," originally written in Latin in four stanzas. The earliest manuscript signed by Wade is dated about 1743. By the early nineteenth century, however, four additional stanzas had been added by other writers. A Roman Catholic, Wade apparently moved to France because of discrimination against Roman Catholics in eighteenth-century England—especially so after the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. He taught music at an English college in Douay and hand copied and sold chant music for use in the chapels of wealthy families. Wade's copied manuscripts were published as Cantus Diversi pro Dominicis et Festis p… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: Hither, ye faithful, haste with songs of triumph
Title: The Birth of Christ
Latin Title: Adeste Fideles
Author: John Francis Wade
Meter: 11.11.11.11
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
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Notes

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 stanzas, the second, that in use in France, and the third the English use, both in Latin and English. The full text [is] from Thesaurus Animae Christianae, Mechlin, N.D. (where it is given as a second sequence for Christmas and said to be "Ex Graduali Cisterciensi"….

Translations in common use:—
16. Hither, ye faithful, haste with songs of triumph. In the American Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns Philadelphia, 1843, No. 174.

-- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Timeline

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Instances

Instances (1 - 93 of 93)
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A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Designed to Aid in the Devotions of Prayer, Conference, and Camp-Meetings #89

A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Designed to Aid in the Devotions of Prayer, Conference, and Camp-Meetings #89

A Collection of Hymns and Psalms for the Use of Singing School and Musical Societies #d49

A Collection of Hymns and Psalms for the Use of Singing School and Musical Societies #d49

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Pious of All Denominations #d33

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Pious of All Denominations #d33

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Used at Camp and Prayer Meetings #d80

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Used at Camp and Prayer Meetings #d80

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the United Brethren in Christ #d137

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the United Brethren in Christ #d137
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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #94

A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #94
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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs; suited to the various kinds of Christian worship; and especially designed for and adapted to the Fraternity of the Brethren... #162

A Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs; suited to the various kinds of Christian worship; and especially designed for and adapted to the Fraternity of the Brethren... #162
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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #657

A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #657

A Compilation of Genuine Church Music. 4th ed. #d111

A Compilation of Genuine Church Music. 4th ed. #d111

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Designed for the Use of the Pious #d64

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Designed for the Use of the Pious #d64
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A Selection of Hymns for the Use of Social Religious Meetings and for Private Devotions. 7th ed. #307

A Selection of Hymns for the Use of Social Religious Meetings and for Private Devotions. 7th ed. #307
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A Selection of Hymns for the use of social religious meetings, and for private devotions 2d ed. #206

A Selection of Hymns for the use of social religious meetings, and for private devotions 2d ed. #206

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d149

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d149
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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #A5

A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #A5
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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #103

African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #103
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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #603c

African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #603c
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American Psalmody #250

American Psalmody #250

An American Christmas Harp #63

An American Christmas Harp #63
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Baptist Hymn Book #a72

Baptist Hymn Book #a72
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Chapel Treasures (Christ Chapel Sabbath-School, Lebanon, PA) #153

Chapel Treasures (Christ Chapel Sabbath-School, Lebanon, PA) #153

Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d31

Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d31

Cole's Pocket Edition of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Containing Most of the Tunes Used in Different Churches #d51

Cole's Pocket Edition of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Containing Most of the Tunes Used in Different Churches #d51

Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship. 4th ed. #d120

Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship. 4th ed. #d120

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d279

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d279
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Cottage Melodies; a hymn and tune book, for prayer and social meetings and the home circle #462

Cottage Melodies; a hymn and tune book, for prayer and social meetings and the home circle #462
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Dyer's Psalmist #381

Dyer's Psalmist #381

General Baptist Hymn Book #d201

General Baptist Hymn Book #d201

Harmonia Sacra, being a Compilation of Church Music. 10th ed #d122

Harmonia Sacra, being a Compilation of Church Music. 10th ed #d122
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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #S31

Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #S31
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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #S31

Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #S31
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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #151

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #151
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Hymnal #103

Hymnal #103

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d76

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d76

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d73

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d73

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship, published by General Synod for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 68th ed. (8th rev. ed.) #d308

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship, published by General Synod for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 68th ed. (8th rev. ed.) #d308
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Hymns #779

Hymns #779
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Hymns #779

Hymns #779
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Hymns #779

Hymns #779
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New Select Hymns #59

New Select Hymns #59

Prayer Meeting, Revival, and Union Hymns #d22

Prayer Meeting, Revival, and Union Hymns #d22

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d315

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d315

Resurrected Songs prepared for the Church #d69

Resurrected Songs prepared for the Church #d69

Select Hymns #d77

Select Hymns #d77

Select Melodies, comprising the Best of Those Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use #d91

Select Melodies, comprising the Best of Those Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use #d91

Select Melodies, Comprising the Best of Those Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use not Found in the Standard Methodist Episcopal Hymnal #d91

Select Melodies, Comprising the Best of Those Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use not Found in the Standard Methodist Episcopal Hymnal #d91
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Select Melodies; Comprising the Best Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use, and not generally found in standard church hymn-books #172

Select Melodies; Comprising the Best Hymns and Spiritual Songs in Common Use, and not generally found in standard church hymn-books #172
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Social and Camp-meeting Songs, for the Pious (9th ed. enl.) #82

Social and Camp-meeting Songs, for the Pious (9th ed. enl.) #82
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Social and Campmeeting Songs For the Pious (4th ed.) #82

Social and Campmeeting Songs For the Pious (4th ed.) #82
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Songs of Beulah #134

Songs of Beulah #134

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #91

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #91

The African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymn Book #d162

The African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymn Book #d162
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The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #103

The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #103
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The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #603c

The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #603c
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The American Church Harp #122

The American Church Harp #122

The American Repository of Sacred Music #d62

The American Repository of Sacred Music #d62
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The Baptist Hymn Book #72

The Baptist Hymn Book #72
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The Book of Worship #50

The Book of Worship #50
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The Brethren Hymnal #120

The Brethren Hymnal #120
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The Choice #S3

The Choice #S3

The Choice #S3

The Choice #S3

The Christian Harmony #d129

The Christian Harmony #d129

The Christian Lyre. Vol. II #d29

The Christian Lyre. Vol. II #d29

The Christian Melodist, a Collection of Popular Songs, for Use in Public and Social Meetings ... #d134

The Christian Melodist, a Collection of Popular Songs, for Use in Public and Social Meetings ... #d134

The Christian Psalmist #d257

The Christian Psalmist #d257

The Christian Psalmist (Numeral ed.) 10th ed., 1st rev. ed. #d151

The Christian Psalmist (Numeral ed.) 10th ed., 1st rev. ed. #d151
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The Christian's Harp #141

The Christian's Harp #141

The Church Hymn Book #d371

The Church Hymn Book #d371
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The Cyber Hymnal #2449

The Cyber Hymnal #2449

The Dover Selection of Spiritual Songs #d100

The Dover Selection of Spiritual Songs #d100

The Dover Selection of Spiritual Songs, with an Appendix of Choice Hymns #d95

The Dover Selection of Spiritual Songs, with an Appendix of Choice Hymns #d95

The Good Old Songs #d207

The Good Old Songs #d207

The Good Old Songs #668

The Good Old Songs #668

The Harmonia Sacra. 14th ed. #d121

The Harmonia Sacra. 14th ed. #d121
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The Hymn Book of the African Methodist Episcopal Church #765

The Hymn Book of the African Methodist Episcopal Church #765

The Musical Olio #d1

The Musical Olio #d1
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The New Harmonia Sacra #230a

The New Harmonia Sacra #230a

The Ohio Harmonist #d32

The Ohio Harmonist #d32

The Old School Hymnal No. 7. Rev. #d87

The Old School Hymnal No. 7. Rev. #d87

The Primitive Hymns #d225

The Primitive Hymns #d225

The Sacred Harp #223

The Sacred Harp #223

The Sacred Harp. New ed. #d29

The Sacred Harp. New ed. #d29

The Social Harp #40

The Social Harp #40

The Social Harp #d120

The Social Harp #d120

The Social Harp. Rev. #d145

The Social Harp. Rev. #d145

The South Western Psalmist #d138

The South Western Psalmist #d138
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The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion (New ed. thoroughly rev. and much enl.) #136

The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion (New ed. thoroughly rev. and much enl.) #136

The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. New ed. #d48

The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. New ed. #d48
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The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. New edition, thoroughly revised and much enlarged #136

The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion. New edition, thoroughly revised and much enlarged #136
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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #230

The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #230
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The Voice of Praise #153

The Voice of Praise #153

The Western Harp #d78

The Western Harp #d78

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d180

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d180

Zion's Harp ... Sacred Songs Not Found in the Methodist Hymn Book and Many Never Before Published with Several Original Pieces #d114

Zion's Harp ... Sacred Songs Not Found in the Methodist Hymn Book and Many Never Before Published with Several Original Pieces #d114
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