Devotional for the Third Day of Christmas

Illustration from the Book of Kells (9th century)
from Gospel According to John.

December 27th – Third Day of Christmas

To Thee Now, 
Christ's Dear Darling
Pray for us to the Prince of peace,                              

Amice Christi, Johannes (John, friend of Christ)

1. To thee now, Christ's dear darling,                               

That wert maiden both old and ying,                                     

My heart is set a song to sing,                                       

Amice Christi, Johannes.

2. For thou wert so clean a maid,                                      

The secrets of heaven were to thee said                            

When on Christ's breast thou wert laid,                      

Amice Christi, Johannes.

3. When Christ before Pilate was brought,                   

Thou, clean of heart, forsook Him nought,                         

To die with Him was all thy thought,                           

Amice Christi, Johannes.

4. Christ's mother thou tookest home with thee                

Maiden, a maiden's friend to be,                                    

Thou be our help, we pray to thee,                                  

Amice Christi, Johannes.


Words: English Traditional, Before 1529 . Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 126.