Great Saint Andrew

Lover of His Glorious Cross

Great Saint Andrew was written by Fr. Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880). Ordained an Anglican Priest in 1828, along with others of the Oxford Movement, he converted to Catholicism in 1848. He is best known for his translation of Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful). Great Saint Andrew is set to the 1840 tune, Contemplation (also known as Trust) by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Great Saint Andrew, Friend of Jesus is used on November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.


GREAT SAINT ANDREW by Frederick Oakeley, (Public Domain)

1. Great Saint Andrew, friend of Jesus,
Lover of his glorious cross,
Early by his voice effective
Called from ease to pain and loss.

2. Strong Saint Andrew, Simon’s brother,
Who with haste fraternal flew,
Fain with him to share the treasure
Which at Jesus’ lips he drew.

3. Blest St Andrew, Jesus’ herald,
True Apostle, martyr bold,
Who by deed his words confirming
Sealed with blood the truth he told.

4. Ne’er to king was crown so beauteous,
Ne’er to heart was prize so dear,
As to him the cross of Jesus
When its promised joys drew near.

5. Loved Saint Andrew, Scotland’s patron,
Watch thy land with heedful eye,
Rally round the cross of Jesus
All her storied chivalry!

6. To the Father, Son and Spirit,
Fount of sanctity and love,
Give we glory now and ever,
With the saints who reign above.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O Come, Let Us Adore Him

O Come, All Ye Faithful is an adaptation of the original 18th century Latin carol: Adeste Fideles attributed to John Francis Wade (1711-1786). Wade had fled to France after the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 where he remained the rest of his life, living with other exiled English Catholics, continuing to write and teach music for the Church. In 1751 he published Adeste Fideles set to the same tune sung today, although the authorship of the music is not clear. The text was translated and expanded in 1841 by Fr. Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880), a convert to Catholicism from the Anglican Church who was a member of Cardinal Newman's community at Littlemore. In the Liturgy of the Hours, O Come, All Ye Faithful is used during Christmas.



O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL by John F. Wade, 1743 (Public Domain)

1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Refrain:  O come, let us adore Him,
               O come, let us adore Him,
               O come, let us adore Him,
               Christ the Lord.

2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

4. See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

5. Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

6. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

7. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.