The Hymn of the Day is designated for each Sunday of
the Church Year. These hymns are selected
to reflect the theme of the day as found in the Gospel Lesson. They are rich in theological content and are
of historic significance in the worship life of the Church. They reflect the
broad spectrum of the Christian Church coming from all parts of the world and
from every age of the Church.
Unfortunately Lutheran
Service Book does not contain the list of Hymns of the Day. However, they are found in Lutheran Worship.
The Hymn of the Day for this Sunday is one of the best
loved Advent hymns, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”
This hymn was originally written in Latin and titled, “Veni, veni,
Emmanuel.” It is based on the great “O
Antiphons.” The Great O Antiphons are seven brief prayers that are
traditionally chanted or sung on successive evenings starting on December 17.
The origins of these Great O Antiphons is unknown but
by the 8th and 9th centuries they were in use throughout
western Europe at the evening services during Advent. The O Antiphons are
printed in Lutheran Service Book
following hymn 357.
Each O Antiphon addresses Christ by one of His Old Testament titles and
prays for Him to come in fulfillment the Old Testament prophesies concerning
the promised Savior.
The translation from Latin was done in the 1800’s by John
Mason Neale and Henry Sloane Coffin. Henry Sloane Coffin was one of the most
famous Presbyterian ministers of his day in America.
John Mason Neale was an Anglican priest, scholar and
hymn-writer who was born in London in 1818. He made English-speaking
congregations aware of the centuries-old heritage of Latin, Greek, Russian, and
Syrian hymns.
In addition to O Come, O Come Emmanuel, his
translations include:
All Glory, Laud, and Honor, LSB 442
A Great and Mighty Wonder, LSB 383
Good King Wenceslas
Of the Father's Heart Begotten, LSB 384
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle, LSB 454
Before The Ending of The Day, LSB 889
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