Mary the Dawn

August 31, 2016 by Leave a Comment

9[1] Mary the Dawn is a simple hymn. Its melody is based on the Gregorian Psalm Tone, Mode IV, and the text was written by Paul Cross (Justin Mulcahy, C.P.). It first appeared in the 1953 St. Pius X Hymnal.

Over 20 years ago, I learned to sing this at a Catholic summer camp.  I clearly remember that the girls sang “Mary the Dawn”, and the boys responded, “Christ the Perfect Day” etc. at chapel/rosary time before dinner.

Now with my boys, I sing the first part, and they respond. They really enjoy singing this one! As we learned it, I pointed out the connections between Mary and Christ in the text.  Then I said, “If Christ is the Living Bread, what would Mary be?” and my 9-year-old correctly guessed “wheat”.

I hope you enjoy singing this one, too! Here’s everything you need to learn it:

Sheet Music
Audio

TEXT:
Mary the Dawn
Author: Paul Cross (Justin Mulcahy, C.P.) Read his bio

1.
Mary the Dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the Gate, Christ the Heav’nly Way!

2.
Mary the Root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the Grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!

3.
Mary the Wheat-Sheaf, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the Rose-Tree, Christ the Rose blood-red!

4.
Mary the Font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the Chalice, Christ the Saving Blood!

5.
Mary the Temple; Christ the Temple’s Lord;
Mary the Shrine, Christ the God adored!

6.
Mary the Beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the Mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!

7.
Mary the Mother, Christ the Mother’s Son.
Both ever blest while endless ages run. Amen.

 

Filed Under: Catholic Music Tagged With: , ,

Hark, a Herald Voice is Calling

November 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

12[1]Hark, a Herald Voice is Calling is a hymn for Advent that has been used by the Church since the 5th or 6th century.  Originally the Latin hymn Vox clara ecce intonant, it was revised by Pope Urban VIII for the 1632 Roman Breviary with the new first line: En Clara Vox Redarguit.

My favorite melody for this hymn comes from the Fulda Hymn Book of 1695. It was published in 1953 in the Pius X Hymnal.

I love the exhortations to “cast away the dreams of darkness” and “let the earth-bound soul arise.” Christ is coming to dispel all slothfulness, and to forgive anyone who hastens to Him “with tears of sorrow.”

May you have a holy Advent!

 

Sheet Music
Audio

Hark, a Herald Voice is Calling:

 

Text

Translation by Rev. Edward Caswell

1. Hark! a herald voice is calling:
‘Christ is nigh,’ it seems to say;
‘Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day!’

2. Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

3. Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven;

4. So when next He comes with glory,
Wrapping all the earth in fear,
May He then as our defender
On the clouds of heaven appear.

5. Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit,
While unending ages run. Amen.

 

For more hymns, please see the List of Catholic Hymns, Songs, and Chants.

Filed Under: Catholic Music Tagged With: , ,
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