O Come, Divine Messiah!

This page includes a lyric video, a brief history, and other resources for the Advent hymn “O Come, Divine Messiah!” Enjoy!

Enjoy this You Tube video with lyrics of “O Come, Divine Messiah!” I could not find a modernized version that retained the original tune, so here is a traditional chorus version:

And here is a You Tube video with a beautiful modern tune for “O Come, Divine Messiah!”:

History of “O Come, Divine Messiah!”:

Simon-Joseph Pellegrin (1663 – 1745) was a French poet and playwright. He was originally nominated for a career in the Catholic Church, so he carried the honorary title of “abbot” throughout his life. Pellegrin wrote a number of dramatic works, as well as the text for operas. Out of respect for his title of “abbot,” many of these works were published in the name of his brother Jacques. Antoine de Léris^,a historian of French theater praised him as “an excellent grammarian and a most fecund author, to which he joined great goodness of heart and a grand simplicity of manner.”

Pellegrin also wrote and translated a variety of spiritual songs that he set to familiar tunes from the opera. The song “O Come, Divine Messiah” was originally set to a 16^th century French tune.

The translation of this song from French to English was done by Sister Mary of St. Philip. She was one of the first English members of the Sisters of Notre Dame when they established a training college in Liverpool, England around 1850.

For a more detailed history on 20 other popular Christmas songs, you can purchase our Christmas Songs eBook (only $2.99; use code “celebrate20” for 20% off). The history of the songs, along with sheet music, is included.

For additional resources, visit Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

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