In Dulci Jubilo/Good Christian Men, Rejoice!
- Renée Coventry
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
In Dulci Jubilo is the precursor to today’s more modern Good Christian Men, Rejoice! Believed to have been written in the thirteenth century, it conveys rich theological truth. This medieval carol of Germanic-Latin origin, and its lyrics were set to music several times by Bach. Today, we sing it in English in a more up-tempo fashion than previously written, however, the truths it declares are as important today as they were in the thirteenth century. This song declares Jesus the Alpha and Omega, along with the cry of every Christian heart to be drawn to Him and a longing to be with Him in eternity. The translation of Latin is again taken from The Shorter New Oxford Book of Carols, edited by Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott. The arrangement chosen today is sung in German, reminding us that Christ came for the entire world. As John the Revelator recounted,
I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ Rev. 7:9-10, NASB95
In Dulci Jubilo
Good Christian Men, Rejoice!
In dulci jubilo (With sweet jubilation)
Let songs and gladness flow!
All our joy reclineth in praesepio (in a manger)
And like the sun He shineth matris in gremio Alpha es et O! Alpha es et O!
(in [your] mother’s lap, You are Alpha and Omega).
O Jesu parvule, (O infant Jesus)
I yearn for Thee always! Comfort me and stay me,
O Puer optime; (O best of boys)
By the great love I pray Thee,
O Princeps Gloriae, Trahe me post te!
(O Prince of Glory, draw me after You [to heaven])
O Patris caritas! O Nati lenitas!
(O love of the Father! O mercy of the Son!)
Condemned we had remained
Per nostra crimina (through our sins)
But He for us hat gained
Coelorum gaudia (the joys of heaven)
In paradise afar, where joys unending are.
Ubi sunt gaudia (Where are joys)
More deep than heaven’s are?
In heaven are angels singing
Nova cantica, (new songs)
In heaven the bells are ringing
In Regis curia (in the courts of the King)
O that we were there!
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