Second opinion on a hymn to St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop)
  • veromaryveromary
    Posts: 160
    Here is a hymn, 4 verses, long meter. St Mary of the Cross is the one and only canonized Australian. Her feast day is the 8th of August.

    There were quite a few hymns came out at the time of the canonisation, but I haven't found any that are singable.

    Should I just quit and fall back on hymn from Vespers for the Common of Virgins?

    And if anyone has any other gems lurking around, please share.

    Surely there was something written for her in the earlier half of the twentieth century that might have survived.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,150
    Thank you for this hymn text. Here is an original, just composed chant setting for this hymn to St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

    I'm also working on a harmonized simplified setting for SATB (the melody for the simplifed version is more-or-less based on the first note of each neume of the chant).

    Also, in snooping around the internet, I happened upon Story of Mary MacKillop which I enjoyed reading.

    Chuck Giffen

    Note: The chant setting has now been updated with a change to the text of the first line of the second stanza.
    Giffen-O Mother Mary of the Cross-chant.pdf
    67K
  • veromaryveromary
    Posts: 160
    I'm honoured! Thank you!

    That was a good article on Mary MacKillop too. Interesting that she had some contact with Caroline Chisholm. Many years ago I heard a talk about her cause for canonisation, but that it was less likely as it needed more backing.

    There's another hymn/song to the tune of Jupiter by Gustav holst called "From Penola's Plains" that isn't too bad. And the tune is fun to sing.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • hartleymartin
    Posts: 1,447
    There are many hymns about Mary Mackillop. There are not many good ones. The hymn by Veronica Brandt and the "From Penola's Plains" are the only two which I have really warmed to.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
Add a Comment