This hymn is a translation of a Latin hymn. There is no certainty about when it was written, or by whom. From the 10th Century, it has been an office hymn for the office of Matins, and also for the Office of Readings during Advent. Some scholars, however, date it to the late 5th century. It is sometimes attributed to Saint Ambrose or to Saint Gregory the Great.
Talking about this hymn can get confusing. Two Latin hymns begin with the line: Verbum supernum prodiens. One is for Advent, and the other for the Feast of Corpus Christi. Our hymn of the month is the one for Advent. Scholars believe the Advent hymn is the earlier of the two, and that the writer of the Corpus Christi hymn (usually attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas) used the Advent hymn as a pattern. This seems reasonable, particularly since there is such a close relationship between the Nativity and the Eucharist, both examples of the Word made flesh. We will leave the Corpus Christi hymn for another day.
O Heavenly Word, Eternal Light is a wonderful Advent hymn. It covers all the bases of Advent: That Christ came down from heaven to be born on earth to save mankind; a prayer for grace to obey his call to us today; the second coming of Christ; and our hope for eternal salvation.
In the first stanza, we address Christ, naming some of his attributes. These are familiar words. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we hear: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” We also hear the Nicene Creed: “Eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, begotten, not made. . . . For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven.”
Stanzas 2-4 are petitions. We ask that the eternal light be poured on us to fire our hearts with love. And we also pray for the light to burn away all that is not holy, so that at the last judgment, we be numbered with the saints to be with God forever. Two other hymns immediately come to mind in this regard. In How Firm a Foundation (H1982 Nos. 636 & 637), stanza 4, God speaks to us: “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and they gold to refine.” At the Name of Jesus (H1982 No. 435), stanza 5, encourages us: “In your hearts enthrone him: there let him subdue all that is not holy, all that is not true.”
Stanza 5 is the Gloria patri, which makes a sort of bookend to the prayer by praising God and acknowledging that he is due glory and praise forever: from age to age eternally.
Though our hymnal does not credit him with it, the translation is basically by John Mason Neale (1818-1866). Our hymnal lists Hymnal 1982 as the translator. It appears the hymnal committee took Neale’s translation and modified it a bit, but it is still basically Neale’s translation. Neale was an Anglican priest, whose translations of Latin hymns are today considered great gifts to the faithful. He won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while he was a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. His poetic sensibilities are evident in his translations. Despite being in ill health for much of his life, his body of work is quite large. If you look in the authors and translators section of the Hymnal 1982 Index, you will see quite a long list of translations by Neale. He devoted much of his time and energy to improving social conditions. He was often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, but he is acclaimed today for his contributions to hymnody, and to the Church.
Our hymn book gives two tunes for this hymn, and we will sing both tunes this month. Verbum supernum prodiens (H1982 No. 63) is a 13th century chant melody, which is the melody historically associated with this text. Of course, it fits this chant text beautifully. Many of our Advent hymns are Gregorian Chant, and that timeless quality of chant melodies fits the themes of Advent very well.
The second tune, O Heiland, reiss (H1982 No. 64), is a German chorale melody published anonymously in Rheinfelsisches Deutsches Catholisches Gesangbuch in the 17th century. Scholars believe this tune was probably composed for the German hymn O Heiland reiss, die Himmel auf (O Savior tear open the heavens), an Advent hymn based on Isaiah 45:8 (Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness.). You will recognize this as the antiphon for the Advent Prose, which we are singing at the beginning of Communion every Sunday in Advent. Despite being written for the German hymn of the same name, O Heiland, reiss works amazingly well with O Heavenly Word, Eternal Light.
— Carolyn Parmenter, Music Director
