Categories: hymns
Date: 12 November 2004 05:17:35
Not quite Advent yet, but Huw over at Doxos suggested in one of his posts writing meditations on the "Great O Antiphons" used in the Western church. I pray and hope this may help us all to slow down and reflect, if only a little, as Christmas Day approaches.
We're starting on the 15th November (which is the start date of the 40-day Nativity Fast in Orthodoxy), but for now, as we hit the weekend, courtesy of Clifton Healy, is a hymn based on them, and a hymn that may be known to many of you (it is one of my favourites):
Words: Latin: c. 9th Century
Tr. by John M. Neale
Tr. by Henry S. Coffin
Music: VENI EMMANUEL
Adapted from Plainsong, Mode I
Thomas HelmoreO come, o come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who orders all things mightily,
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty, and awe.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, O Rod of Jesse free,
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the graveCHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Desire of nations, bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.CHORUS: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!