Morning Song
Daybreak over the Atlantic
Voices Found 27
I will kindle my fire
I will kindle my fire in the morn of the day, in the presence of holy angels.
Without malice or jealousy, envy or fear, without terror of anyone under the sun, but the Holy Beloved to shield me.
O Holy One kindle thou here in my heart, a flame of pure love to my neighbor,
To my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all,
To the brave, to the knave, to the thrall.
O child of the loveliest Mary,
From the lowliest thing, to the Holy Name, the beloved of all.
Words: Carmina Gadelica
Music: Mary Truly Ermey, St. Hildegard’s Community, Austin, Texas
“I will kindle my fire,” also known as “Celtic Morning Prayer” is adapted from “Blessing of the Kindling” in Carmina Gadelica, a compilation of Celtic prayers and chants collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832–1912). He recorded, translated, and reworked them for publication in 1900. For more information please see The Leader’s Guide to Voices Found
Mary July Ermey, a member of St. Hildegard’s Community within St. George’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, composed the music for her community which they sing at the opening of a contemplative liturgy. It recalls women in the Scottish Hebrides rising alone and singing before dawn as they “lift the peats” or stir the fire.
About the text
Also called the “Breakfast Prayer” this may have been a “work song” that women sang as they cooked for the family, singing and praying as they stirred the fire and the pot. The archaic Celtic words may pose a challenge:"brave" is clear, but “knave” means a dishonest person or scoundrel, and “thrall” is a servant or captive. However, the unfamiliar language stresses Jesus's teaching that our neighbors are both friends and foes.
About the music
“I will kindle my fire” is unaccompanied in the pew edition of Voices Found and it is effective sung a cappella as a solo or by a small group. The Leader’s Guide offers a keyboard accompaniment with optional guitar chords. Alternatively a harp, preferably medieval, could play the melody or the chords.
“I will kindle my fire,” is track 7 on the album Magdalene and the Other Mary. For the recording Lourin Plant arranged an accompaniment for medieval harp which he directed. Dr. Plant, a Professor of Music at Rowan University in New Jersey, regularly sang with the Lady Chapel Singers.
Listening
As you listen to “I will kindle my fire,”, think of neighbors who need your love this morning.
Reflecting
Ask Holy One to kindle love in your heart for all the neighbors you meet today.
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