Advent has arrived, and I’ve hung some greens on my blog for the season. Sundays are the usual day for an installment in my series, Then Sings My Soul: The Hymns of My Youth. As part of my Johannine Advent Project, I’ll be turning my focus during the season to Christmas carols, which I’ve pre-selected for Advent. It all brings to mind memories of caroling on cold winter evenings with friends, hot chocolate waiting at the end of the evening. This week’s carol is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, one with uncertain origins dating back to between the 8^th and 12^th centuries, and was translated from Latin in the mid-19^th century by John Mason Neale (1818-1866), who also wrote “Good King Wenceslas.” The hymn is based on the Antiphons sung in the Roman Catholic church from December 17-23. In Latin, the letters which begin the original titles formed the acrostic SARCORE, which in reverse spells “ERO CRAS,” meaning “I will be there tomorrow” in Latin. As such, it is seen as the answer spoken the day before Christmas by Emmanuel himself.

The verses are calls to the Messiah to come, calling him by the various names he is given. For this reason, it makes a fitting opener for the season of Advent, when we call to our Messiah to come. The theme for the first week of Advent is Hope, and this song is filled with it, built upon the names by which we call to him. This week, we light the first candle. And we hope.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
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.
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 did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

The lyrics are a feast of their own… let’s add some visuals, and of course, audio… (RSS readers may need to click through). Two selections… the second was put together by Christine Sine last year as part of an Advent Liturgy.

This is my first “official” post in the Johannine Advent Project — other participating bloggers include:

Advent Blogging with John’s Gospel
• Brother Maynard
• Lainie Petersen
• Peggy Brown
• Sonja
• Adam Copeland
• John the Shepherd
• Rob Robinson
• Christine Sine
• Lori Bjerkander
• Glenn Jordan
• Julie Clawson
• Cindy Bryan
• Robin Dugall
• Lyn Hallewell
• J. Michael Matkin
• Eric G.
• (Formerly Emerging) Grace
• Matt Stone

Not everyone listed is blogging on the same days, but together we’ll likely cover almost every day through Advent.