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As the month of the May draws to a close we hope you have enjoyed the varied selection of Marian hymns and songs which were posted during Mary's month. Varied and wide types I think we can all agree. But the winner of the straw poll taken amongst friends and neighbours of the blog by a long shot as peoples most popular May Marian Hymn is "Bring Flowers of the Rarest". We opened the month of May with the great Irish tenor Frank Paterson singing it and now as the sun sets on May, why don't you join with Canon MacEwan and sing out "Oh Mary we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May".
The traditional latin Marian hymn was a very popular suggestion. The Salve Regina, also known as the Hail Holy Queen, is a Marian hymn and one of four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons within the Christian liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church. The Salve Regina is traditionally sung at Compline in the time from the Saturday before Trinity Sunday until the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent. The Hail Holy Queen is also the final prayer of the Rosary.
The work was composed during the Middle Ages by German monk Hermann of Reichenau and originally appeared in Latin, the prevalent language of Western Christianity until modern times. Traditionally it has been sung in Latin, though many translations exist
"I have a few favourites but most favourite would have to be "Salve Regina" . The melody of this Latin plain chant hymn adds to the solemnity and warmth of the lyrics. I have fond memories of connecting with this hymn at various times in my life especially at the end of the day in a darkened chapel as I invoked the protection of 'Mater Miserecordia'
"It's a basque carol...For me, this hymn shows Mary's transparent openness to Gods will. She trusted God, as simple as that, as humble as that. I simply love Mary's response to the Angel - 'To me be as it pleases God' she said, my soul shall laud and magnify his holy name' - in modern speak... 'whatever God wishes is ok by me and I'll thank him with all my heart for it'. And because of Mary, Gods love for me and for the entire world was given permission to be revealed in human reality with the coming of Jesus and this same God remains with us in every moment of our lives through the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts at our baptism. Absolutely fantastic, and absolutely true! In the interaction between Mary and the Angel Gabriel I see also something of the ways of God; he asks and doesn't push, God is gentle and respectful, he waits. Who could be afraid of One so gentle? In the moments of decision, in the crisis of confusion and helplessness, Mary, full of grace, hold us by the hand so that we, like you, may open our hearts to hear God speaking to us today, giving us guidance and direction, and offering to console our hearts with his love."
One suggestion which is a song from the Emmanuel community is Nous te saluons, Couronnée d'étoiles (We salute you, Crowned with Stairs).
Warning, the video is a bit psychedelic but image is that of the Madonna of Guadalupe.
(courtesy of Google translate, the chorus)
We salute you O thou Our Lady Mary, Blessed Virgin, draped in the sun, Crowned with stars with the moon under your feet In you we are given the dawn of greeting
Nous te saluons, Ô toi notre Dame Marie, Vierge Sainte que drape le soleil Couronnée d'étoiles, la lune est sous tes pas En toi nous est donnée L'aurore du Salut
1 - Marie Ève nouvelle et joie de ton Seigneur, Tu as donné naissance à Jésus le sauveur. Par toi nous sont ouvertes, les portes du jardin Guide-nous en chemin, étoile du matin.
2 - Tu es restée fidèle, mère au pied de la croix, Soutiens notre espérance et garde notre foi. Du côté de ton fils, tu as puisé pour nous, L'eau et le sang versés qui sauvent du péché.
3 - Quelle fut la joie d'Ève lorsque tu es montée, Plus haut que tous les anges, plus haut que les nuées, Et quelle est notre joie, douce Vierge Marie De contempler en toi la promesse de vie.
4 - Ô Vierge immaculée, préservée du péché, En ton âme en ton corps, tu entres dans les cieux. Emportée dans la gloire, sainte reine des cieux, Tu nous accueilleras, un jour auprès de Dieu.
Limerick has a strong association with the pilgrimages to Lourdes, and here is one suggestion for "Songs for Mary's month" with a short reflection on it.
"The Ave Maria di Lourdes or the “Lourdes Hymn” as it is sometimes called. This is always sung as part of the torch light procession in Lourdes and always give me the best feeling in the world. A feeling of thanksgiving that we could get our invalids safety to Lourdes and see them all enjoy the torch procession which is a highlight for many of them. A feeling of pride when I see our fantastic volunteers caring to the invalids every need as we process around the sanctuary and finally a feeling of peace and serenity as the procession enters into the Rosary Basilica Square."
A very popular suggestion for "Songs for Mary's month", which was requested by a lot of people. It is suggested it is an Irish song set to a New Zealand tune of Pokarekare Ana!
A Mhuire Mháthair, 'Sé seo mo ghuí Go maire Íosa Go deo’ nar gcroí
Ave Maria, mo ghrá Ave, Is tusa mo mháthair is máthair Dé
A Mhuire Mháthair, I rith mo shaoil Bí liom mar dhídean ar gach aon bhaol
Ave Maria, mo ghrá Ave, Is tusa mo mháthair is máthair Dé
A Mhuire Mháthair ‘tá lán de ghrás Go raibh tú taobh liom Ar uair mo bháis Ave Maria, mo ghrá Ave, Is tusa mo mháthair is máthair Dé
A suggestion for Songs for May for Mary from Phil over at Ennis Blue:
By tradition, May is a month especially dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.
This lovely version of the Ave Maria (Hail Mary), is one of my favourite songs but it is in Italian, so these are my efforts at a translation.
Ora pro nobis is Latin for Pray for Us but I think most of you will already know that one!
Woman of waiting Mother of hope Woman of smiles Mother of silence Woman of the margins Mother of Love Woman of rest Mother of the journey Woman of the desert Mother of Breath Woman of the evening Mother of memories Woman of this moment and Mother of the past Woman on Earth Mother of Love Ave Maria : Hail Mary
Ora Pro Nobis : Pray for us.
and here’s a lovely poem by Stephen Levine.
Mother-Of-Us-All
prays to free us from our image of perfection to which so much suffering clings.
When in the shadowy mind we imagine ourselves imperfectly, praying to be freed from gravity by enlightenment, she refines our prayers.
Putting her arms around us she bids us rest our head on her shoulder whispering, Don’t you know with all your fear and anger all you are fit for is love.
