O Come All Ye Faithful

Ben Fuller's “O Come All Ye Faithful” is a modern recording of the carol known in Latin as “Adeste Fideles,” whose text is usually credited to John Francis Wade in the eighteenth century. It begins with a call to the faithful, joyful and triumphant, to come to Bethlehem.

The words of the second part give the reason for the trip: come and behold him, born the King of angels. The refrain is the part everyone remembers, a repeated invitation to come and adore him, Christ the Lord. A further verse looks up to heaven and calls on the choirs of angels to sing in exaltation and on all the citizens of heaven above to join. It then closes with glory to God, glory in the highest. In this version the carol is shortened, with a gentle band and an easy, singable tone. Because the lines are short and the melody is familiar, it is a good pick for a service where many ages sing together, and it fits a family gathering around a tree. The words describe a trip to the stable as a response to an announcement, not as a quest, and they make the response worship. It is a good song for opening an Advent or Christmas Eve gathering, or for anyone who wants a quiet moment to remember why the season is celebrated.

The shepherds going to Bethlehem are in Luke 2:15-16. The wise men seeking the newborn king are Matthew 2:1-2, and the angels' praise is Luke 2:13-14.