What Child Is This?

Adoration of the Shepherds, by James Tissot, c. 1886-94. Brooklyn Museum, New York, New York, United States. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
Adoration of the Shepherds, by James Tissot, c. 1886-94. Brooklyn Museum, New York, New York, United States.

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?

The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1607. Pinacoteca Civica, Fermo, Italy. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1607. Pinacoteca Civica, Fermo, Italy.

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c. 1650. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, c. 1650. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1622, Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
Adoration of the Shepherds, by Gerard van Honthorst, c. 1622, Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany.

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

The Adoration of the Magi, by Gerard David, c. 1520, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, United States. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Magi, by Gerard David, c. 1520, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, United States.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

The Adoration of the Magi, by Domingos António de Sequeira, Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, Portugal. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Adoration of the Magi, by Domingos António de Sequeira, Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon, Portugal.

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Karina Tabone

Karina Tabone is a wife, mother of four, author, blogger, and lover of Christian artwork. She's the author of the Illustrated Rosary series, which pairs every prayer of the Rosary with beautiful religious artwork. She likes also milkshakes, sunshine, and mystery novels. Follow her on Twitter at @illustr_prayer.

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