Addison Road

And the granddaddy of my favorites (and Rod’s, apparently), as well as one of the oldest caroles still sung at Christmas. (But Michael wins the award for most ancient with “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent.”) They just don’t write them like this anymore. Its lyric dates to the 12th century (that’s old, folks!) and was translated from the Latin by John M. Neals in 1851. (His first pass was “Draw nigh, draw nigh Emmanuel.” I think his wife probably helped him out of that one.) The music is comparably young–Veni Emmanuel was a processional sung by French Franciscan nuns in the 15th century.

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

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory over the grave.

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.

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.

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.

I can’t even pick a favorite verse. The quiet, humble conviction that Emmanuel is the fulfillment of humanity’s deepest longings is so poignant, so…true…that my breath is stolen away. Veni Emmanel. Veni.