Good Christian Men, Rejoice

In Dulci Jubilo ("In Sweet Rejoicing") is a traditional Christmas carol. The original song text, a macaronic alternation of Medieval German and Latin. It is thought to have been penned by the German mystic Heinrich Seuse in 1328. According to folklore, he heard angels sing these words and joined them in a dance of worship. In his biography (or perhaps his autobiography), it was written:

Now this same angel came up to the Servant (Suso) brightly, and said that God had sent him down to him, to bring him heavenly joys amid his sufferings; adding that he must cast off all his sorrows from his mind and bear them company, and that he must also dance with them in heavenly fashion. Then they drew the Servant by the hand into the dance, and the youth began a joyous song about the infant Jesus ...

The tune first appears on ancient manuscripts in 1305 in Leipzig University Library dating from 1400, though it's been thought to have existed in Europe prior to this date.

This is the melody published in the 1582 Finnish music collection Piae Cantiones, which alternates Latin With Swedish. I thought it was very interesting!

The most popular translation was by Robert Lucas de Pearsall in 1837. He kept the Latin phrases but substituted the German for English.

John Mason Neale translated it in 1853, titling his work Good Christian Men, Rejoice. His translation is often criticized. In 1921, H. J. Masse wrote that it was an example of "musical wrong doing... involving the mutilation of the rhythm of that grand tune In dulci jubilo to the English words Good Christian Men, Rejoice. It is inconceivable that anyone with real musical culture should have lent himself to works of inferior merit."

To me, knowing a song from the early 14th century, circa 1328 is amazing! I know the history on this song sounds a bit weird. Knowing the history is really intriguing, but we do need to use discernment in the writer's experience. Do angels sing and dance in heaven? The Bible does say that the angels sing, but I've ever seen a mention anywhere about an angel dancing. The words to the song would seem to be doctrinally correct. Maybe this is just one of those things that we won't know for sure till we get to heaven.

This is the first page of autograph manuscript of In Dulci Jubilo, by Johan Sebastian Bach. Seeing pictures of originals is so intriguing to me!

Second page

This is Pearsall's translation (I know this one the best from Libera),

In dulci jubilo* Now sing with hearts aglow! Our delight and pleasure lies in praesepio; Like sunshine is our treasure matris in gremio; Alpha es et O! Alpha es et O! O Jesu, parvule, For thee I sing alway; Comfort my heart's blindness, O puer optime, with all thy loving kindness, O princeps gloriae; Trahe me post te! Trahe me post te! O Patris caritas! O Nati lenitas! Deeply were we stained per nostra crimina; But thou for us hast gained Coelorum gaudia: Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there! Ubi sunt gaudia in any place but there? There are angels singing nova cantica And there the bells are ringing in Regis curia. Oh, that we were there! Oh, that we were there!

*The Latin phrases are in italics.

John Mason Neale's translation is below (I know this one from Majesty and Glory's Christmas CD):

Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul, and voice;

Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today;

Ox and ass before Him bow; and He is in the manger now.

Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;

Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!

He has opened the heavenly door, and man is blest forevermore.

Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice;

Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!