Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus… Dominum.
When I was a kid I memorised this first passage of Adeste Fideles by heart.
In Latin.
Not because I was in choir, but because we had this old Bing Crosby record where he sang it first in Latin… then rolled straight into English.
I used to lie on the floor, the record spinning on repeat over and over, trying to keep up with the words of that beautiful song in Latin:
Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes…
There was something about that moment.
The language. The music. The stillness.
It felt like Christmas before Christmas.
Tonight, I’m thinking about that kid again.
The record. The floor.
And the quiet magic of the season when everything slowed down just enough for you to feel it.
Wherever you are,
Whoever you’re with,
However loud or quiet your world is right now…
I hope you experience a moment like that today.
Oh and here is Adeste Fidelis in English…
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
O come, let us adore Him… Christ the Lord.
Merry Christmas.
Cheers,
George