What Child is This? -- Jesus, of course

 

Artwork depicting Mary, Jesus and angels watching 

Riding home from breakfast at our local favorite spot this past weekend, my wife asked me what my favorite Christmas song was.

I had to think about that for a few minutes.

It wasn’t "Joy to the World, Silent Night, We Three Kings, Old Little Town of Bethlehem or The First Noel."

I kept running tunes through my brain and finally realized that my favorite was “What Child Is This?”

As much as I like the song, I have difficulty remembering the words.

As luck would have it, upon entering church this past weekend, our music group included the song in their presentation.

Taking a little bit of artists’ license this week, I’m writing that we’re traveling into the Christmas season and therefore am including a picture taken from the Medjugore website that shows Mary and the Baby Jesus with a couple of angels.

According to the Wikipedia website, the lyrics were written by Englishman William Chatterton Dix in 1865. He was an insurance company manager and “had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including the lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of ‘Greensleeves,’ a traditional English folksong.”

The words (to the abbreviated version) are as follows (check out the video on You Tube)::

What Child is This?

What child is this, who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh -

Come, peasant king, to own him:

The King of Kings salvation brings -

Let loving hearts enthrone him

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring him laud -

The babe, the Son of Mary!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Next post: January 5, 2016