Dear Friend,
Merry Christmas Jean Paul Joseph,
“Behold! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel.” (Which means “God with us”).
One of the most beloved Christmas songs we sing wasn’t originally written as a carol at all.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel grew out of ancient prayers sung by monks in the final days before Christmas. The melody itself comes from a 15th-century French Franciscan processional (Processionale)—a slow, prayerful tune meant for walking, waiting, and longing.
Each evening, they would lift a different name for the coming Messiah—O Wisdom, O Lord, O Key of David—titles filled with power, authority, and promise.
Then, on the last night, they sang one name unlike the others:
Immanuel.
Not a title of strength, but of closeness.
Not what God would do, but where God would be.
Immanuel means “God with us.”
Not God above us.
Not God beyond us.
But God with us—entering our world, our frailty, our waiting.
Hidden within those ancient prayers is a quiet message.
- O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
- O Adonai (O Lord)
- O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
- O Clavis David (O Key of David)
- O Oriens (O Dayspring/Rising Sun)
- O Rex Gentium (O King of Nations)
- O Emmanuel (O God with us)
Taking the first letters in reverse order (as they were sung, counting down to Christmas): E-R-O-C-R-A-S = "Ero cras" = "Tomorrow, I will be" or "Tomorrow, I come"
And on Christmas, He did.
Today we celebrate not just the power of God, but His presence.
The Holy One who chose to draw near.
Merry Christmas Jean Paul Joseph!
May you know Immanuel—God with you—today.
God Bless,
Jean Paul Joseph


