St. Stephen Had an Angel's Face

For St. Stephen's Day, Dec. 26

See: Hymns to St Stephen

Author: Luke Waddinge

To the tune of “I doe not Love cause thou art faire”

One of the “Short Carols for Each Day of Christmas”

From

Luke Waddinge, A Small Garland of Pious & Godly Songs, 1684

Christmas Carols of Waddinge and Devereux

Source: Thomas Wall, A Pious Garland Being the December Letter and Christmas Carols of Luke Wadding (Dublin: M.H. Gill and Son, 1960).

Saint Stephen had an angel’s face,
All full of virtue, full of grace,
By the false Jews was stoned to death
For Jesus Christ and for his faith;
But for these stones in heaven he found
Of precious pearls a glorious crown.

The Jews do falsely him accuse,
And in their council him abuse,
Their furious rage without delay
Make stones their arms him to destroy;
But of those stones in heaven he found
Of precious pearls a glorious crown.

The most sweet saint with his last breath
Doth pray for those who seek his death,
And leaves not off while life doth last,
As thick as hail their stones they cast;
And for those stones in heaven he found
Of precious pearls a glorious crown.

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