Litany of the Holy Child Jesus

Representative Text

1 God's dear child, returning home,
Suffer, in Thy love, to come,
Holy Child, to THEE.

2 And Thy gentle hands to bless,
Lay in brotherly caress,
Holy Child, on me.

3 Let my joy be in the thought
That I was in childhood brought
Holy Child, to Thee:

4 Let my hope be in the grace
That will never turn Thy face,
Holy Child, from me.

5 All my work, with all my might,
Let me do as in Thy sight,
Holy Child for Thee;

6 And before the Father's throne,
O, present it as Thine own,
Holy Child, for me.

7 In my pleasant hours of play
Be not ever far away,
Holy Child, from me.

8 Let me, all the happy while,
Have the comfort of a smile,
Holy Child, from Thee.

9 All my sins, repented sore,
Let them be a grief no more,
Holy Child, to Thee.

10 Put the pure and seamless dress
Of Thy perfect righteousness,
Holy Child, on me.

11 Turn my heart, when sins surprise,
And temptations in me rise,
Holy Child, to Thee;

12 And with Thy dear Word of might
Satan put again to flight,
Holy Child, from me.

13 Fix my thoughts, and rest my heart,
(Choosing thus the better part,)
Holy Child, on Thee.

14 Never let my footsteps stray,
Nor Thy Spirit take away,
Holy Child, from me.

15 Thy dear will my will control,
Be the sunshine of my soul,
Holy Child, in Thee;

16 And my only shade or night,
When Thou dost not shed Thy light,
Holy Child, on me.

17 By Thy Father's love divine,
Fill with love this soul of mine,
Holy Child, for Thee.

18 By Thy Mother's tears and grief,
In my sorrows bring relief,
Holy Child, to me.

19 For the blessing of the Dove
That hath settled from above,
Holy Child, on me.

20 To the Father laud and praise,
Offered be, through all my days,
Holy Child, by Thee.

Amen.


Source: Voices of Praise: for school and church and home #314

Author: John S. B. Monsell

John Samuel Bewley Monsell (b. St. Colomb's, Londonderry, Ireland, 1811; d. Guilford, Surrey, England, 1875) was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. Transferred to England in 1853, he became rector of Egham in Surrey and was rector of St. Nicholas Church in Guilford from 1870 until his death (caused by a construction accident at his church). A prolific poet, Monsell published his verse in eleven volumes. His three hundred hymns, many celebrating the seasons of the church year, were issued in collections such as Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Spiritual Songs (1857), Hymns of Love and Praise (1863), and The Parish Hymnal (1873). Bert P… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: God's dear child, returning home
Title: Litany of the Holy Child Jesus
Author: John S. B. Monsell
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Holy Child, to thee
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)
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A Hymnal and Service Book for Sunday Schools, Day Schools, Guilds, Brotherhoods, etc. #489

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The Church School Hymnal with Tunes #176

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The Sunday-School Hymnal and Service Book (Ed. A) #455

TextPage Scan

Voices of Praise #314

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The Sunday School Hymnal #137

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