New national hymn to Our Lady
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Here is a new text set to MOREEN, an old Irish air best known as "The Minstrel Boy."

    1. O blessed Mother, holy Maid
    Who knoweth all our sorrows,
    We call upon Thy loving aid
    And pray for our tomorrows:
    Take this nation to Thy heart,
    From hate and pride release us
    And bid our souls be set apart
    For Thee and for Thy Jesus.

    2. O Lady sweet, we would set sail
    As Heaven’s sons and daughters---
    How all our earthly riches pale
    Before those radiant waters!
    As new pilgrims strive to see
    Our land in hope of liberty,
    May we be welcomed home by Thee,
    The joy of saints in victory.

    (c) 2020 Anna Bendiksen (1969-)
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Brian Michael Page
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,499
    Very nice!

    The fifth and eighth lines have 7 syllables in verse 1 and 8 in verse 2. Am correct in thinking it should be 7 syllables in all the odd lines and 8 in all the even?

    I'm not trying to be picky because I'm sure you have the skills to make everything perfect.

    Early on in my hymn writing, someone pointed out this exact thing to me, and I'm grateful for it.
    Thanked by 3Anna_Bendiksen CHGiffen Brian Michael Page
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    Kathy, thank you so much for your kind words and very pertinent question. MOREEN, unlike most tunes, seems to me flexible in this regard; the lyrics to "The Minstrel Boy" exploit this. I've posted the number of syllables after each line below.

    1. The minstrel boy to the war is gone, (9)
    In the ranks of death you'll find him; (8)
    His father's sword he has girded on (9)
    And his wild harp slung behind him. (8)
    "Land of song," said the warrior bard, (8)
    "Though all the world betrays Thee, (7)
    One sword, at least, Thy rights shall guard, (8)
    One faithful harp shall praise Thee!" (7)

    2. The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain (9)
    Could not bring that proud soul under; (8)
    The harp he loved ne'er spoke again, (8)
    For he tore its chords asunder (8)
    And said, "No chain shall sully Thee, (8)
    Thou soul of love and bravery--- (8)
    Thy songs were made for the pure and free, (9)
    They shall never sound in slav'ry." (8)

    ---Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

  • Chrism
    Posts: 868
    Needs more verses :)
    Thanked by 1Anna_Bendiksen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    Chrism, you do me great honor. Ask yourself who remembers the other verses to "America the Beautiful" and you'll understand my reasoning.
  • Chrism
    Posts: 868
    I do, and now you understand mine :)
    Thanked by 1Anna_Bendiksen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    I love this forum. Editing to post another verse.
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    New version. Thanks, Chrism.

    1. O blessed Mother, holy Maid
    And Queen of all our sorrows,
    We call upon Thy loving aid
    And pray for our tomorrows:
    Take our nation to Thy heart,
    From hate and pride release us
    And bid our souls be set apart
    For Thee and for Thy Jesus.

    2. Our broken lives and bloodied ground
    To Thee, O Virgin, matter,
    And at Thy voice’s radiant sound
    All Satan’s armies scatter;
    Hail Thee, Mary, gracious one!
    Receive our tangled story;
    Remember us before Thy Son,
    The Savior throned in glory.

    3. O Lady sweet, we would set sail
    As Heaven’s sons and daughters---
    How all our earthly riches pale
    Before those gleaming waters!
    As new pilgrims strive to see
    Our land in hope of liberty,
    May we be welcomed home by Thee,
    The joy of saints in victory.

    (c) 2020 Anna Bendiksen (1969-)
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen m_r_taylor sdtalley3
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 228
    Folks, I have a fourth verse and a few tweaks to the others; I think that this is it.

    1. O blessed Mother, holy Maid
    And Queen of all our sorrows,
    We call upon Thy loving aid
    And pray for our tomorrows:
    Take our country to Thy heart,
    From hate and pride release us
    And bid our souls be set apart
    For Thee and for Thy Jesus.

    2. Around our hearts there hangs a bell
    Of dullest iron fashioned;
    In dreadful slavery its knell
    Tolls our unending passion---
    Yet in weakness we would laud
    Thy love for this our nation
    And kneel before the one true God
    In fast of reparation.

    3. Our broken lives and bloodied ground
    To Thee, O Virgin, matter,
    And at Thy voice’s radiant sound
    All Satan’s armies scatter;
    Hail Thee, Mary, gracious one!
    Receive our tangled story;
    Remember us before the throne
    Of Jesus Christ in glory.

    4. O Lady sweet, we would set sail
    As Heaven’s sons and daughters---
    How all our earthly riches pale
    Before those dreaming waters!
    As new pilgrims strive to see
    Our land in hope of liberty,
    May we be welcomed home by Thee,
    The joy of saints in vict'ry.

    (c) 2020 Anna Bendiksen (1969-)
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Chrism
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    Yesterday I opened this thread to see the beautiful hymn that Anna composed. I was immediately inspired to write a hymn chorale to match her wonderful text. With Anna's permission I am posting it here. In JMJ, FK.

    I propose the tune be named HOLY MAID
    oBlessedMother.pdf
    77K
    oBlessedMother.mp3
    2M
    Thanked by 2Anna_Bendiksen sdtalley3
  • francis
    Posts: 10,668
    Here is pdf with tune name
    oBlessedMother.pdf
    79K
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