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In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew:
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio,
Alpha es et O!
O Jesu parvule,
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O puer optime;
My praying let it reach Thee,
O princeps gloriae.
Trahe me post te.
O patris caritas!
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stained.
Per nostra criminal:
But Thou for us hast gained
Coelorum gaudia,
Qualis gloria!
"In Dulci Jubilo" (In Sweet Rejoicing) is a lilting, lively carol that beautifully captures the joyous celebration of Christ’s birth, blending the sacred and the festive in its melody and lyrics. Written by Heinrich Seuse, a German friar of the Dominican Order, in about 1328, the hymn is said to have been inspired by a vision of angels dancing in celebration of the Nativity. It is a macaronic hymn, interweaving Latin and vernacular German. It was later translated into English in the 19th century, with the most popular arrangement by Robert Lucas de Pearsall in 1837.
The hymn celebrates John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The jubilant verses transition from longing to joy, celebrating the hope fulfilled in Christ’s coming. The hymn blends earthly wonder with heavenly praise as the angels sing and humanity rejoices at the birth of Christ. It points us to the light of Christ amidst the darkness. The refrain “Alpha es et O” highlights Christ as the beginning and end of all things (Revelation 22:13), reminding us of His eternal nature and divine mission.
During Advent and Christmas, we are reminded when singing "In Dulci Jubilo" to rejoice in the light of Christ, who came to bring peace and joy to the world. We are called to celebrate with the same wonder and gratitude as the angels and shepherds on that holy night.
Sources:
- “In ducli jubilo,” Hymnology Archive (https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/in-dulci-jubilo).
- “In Dulci Jubilo: what are the lyrics to the Christmas carol?” Classic FM (https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/lyrics/in-dulci-jubilo-christmas-carol-history/).
- “In dulci jubilo,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_dulci_jubilo).
This article was written in part with ChatGPT.
