December 30: The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The Sixth Day of Christmas
“Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!” (Easter Exsultet)

Today’s song

The lost verses of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart,
Form’d in each believing heart.

Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739.