Our Lady of Lourdes

It didn't necessarily start out as a good day. One of our priests, who is very devoted to Our Lady of Lourdes, asked me to provide music at the morning Mass, and I had every intention of doing so--but the Capital Beltway had every intention of keeping me away. So did Route 1. Thankfully, our Organist put the numbers on the hymn boards and got everything ready and underway when I arrived just in time to sing the Gospel Acclamation.

After this inauspicious beginning, however, the day just got better and better. The Mass itself was wonderful (the part I was there for, that is). The homily included personal reflections and even more importantly a thorough discussion of St. Bernadette's apparitions and her trials. We sang the Agnus Dei a cappella, and the peoples' voices were so very encouraging. We sang one of my favorite hymns at Communion, Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You (by Reginald Heber, who also gave us Holy, Holy, Holy), and then, in thanksgiving, I chanted the Magnificat. Lastly we sang the very fun Hail, Holy Queen, which is one of those great hymns that comes right out and says that human beings and angels sing together.

Twice later in the day I had a chance to sing Marian hymns, at an evening Mass at one of the shrines designated as a pilgrimage site for the special feast day, and at lunch time. The lunch story is too long to relate here, but let me just say that singing the Salve Regina with such a dedicated group of people, after feast-day pizza and wings, was a highlight of my professional life thus far.

Here's Virgin-Born, We Bow Before You, a text by the Anglican Bishop Heber sung to a tune borrowed from the Genevan Psalter. How very ecumenical, in peace, for Our Lady of Lourdes.

Virgin-born, we bow before you:

blesséd was the womb that bore you;

Mary, Mother meek and mild,

blesséd was she in her Child.

Blesséd was the breast that fed you;

blesséd was the hand that led you;

blesséd was the parent's eye

that watched thy slumbering infancy.

Blesséd she by all creation,

who brought forth the world's salvation, and

blesséd they, for ever blessed, who

love you most and serve you best.

Virgin-born, we bow before you;

blesséd was the womb that bore you;

Mary, Mother meek and mild,

blessed was she in her Child.

Words: Reginald Heber (18thC)

Music: Psalm 86, Claude Goudimel (16thC): (Click Karaoke)