O come, O come Emmanuel
O come, O come Emmanuel. Latin, possibly 12th century, translated by John Mason Neale* (1818-1866).
The Latin text, beginning ‘Veni, veni Emmanuel’*, has its origins in the Antiphons used at Vespers during Advent, beginning on 17 December. There were seven ‘greater Antiphons’ sung before and after the Magnificat*:
O Sapientiae, quae ex ore altissimi
O Adonai et dux domus Israel
O Radix Jesse qui stas in signum
O Clavis David et sceptrum domus
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae
O Rex gentium et desideratus
O Emmanuel, rex et legifer
The first letter of these Antiphons, read upwards, spells ‘ero cras’ (I will be [born] tomorrow). At some time, probably in the 12th century, a selection was...
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MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "O come, O come Emmanuel."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 18 Feb. 2026.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/o/o-come,-o-come-emmanuel>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "O come, O come Emmanuel."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed February 18, 2026,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/o/o-come,-o-come-emmanuel.