The Third Day Of Christmas 2013

December 27 is the Third Day of Christmas and the feast day of Saint John the Evangelist and Apostle. John was one of the Twelve. He stood at the foot of the cross at the Crucifixion. At the direction of Jesus, he cared for Mary until her death. Most Bible scholars credit John with the authorship of the Gospel of John, three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation.

St. John the Evangelist                                El Greco, ca 1600

Music for the day is Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata, Sehen welch eine liebe hat uns der vater erzeiget, BWV 64. The title translates as "Mark ye how great a love this is that the Father has shown us." Bach wrote this piece for the Third Day of Christmas in 1723 during his first year in Leipzig. Those who would like a translation of the libretto can find one here.