Jump to content

Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Adeste Fideles

From Wikisource

From volume 1 of the work.

93102Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) — Adeste FidelesJoseph Otten


Adeste Fideles.—A hymn used at Benediction at Christmastide in France and England since the clo.se of the eighteenth century. It was sung at the Portuguese Legation in London as early as 1797. The most popular musical setting was ascribed by Vincent Novello, organist there, to John Reading, who was organist at Winchester Cathedral from 1675–81, and later at Winchester College. The hymn itself has been attributed to St. Bonaventure, but is not found among his works. It is probably of French or German authorship. It invites all the faithful to come to Bethlehem to worship the newborn Saviour.

Julian, Dict. of Hymnology s.v.