Songs of two bold saints

 

"Angel with bagpipes" c. 1380 from the Chapel, The Royal Foundation of St. Katharine, London, UK

St. Katharine (287 AD- 305 AD) of Alexandria  was a martyr faithful to  Christianity despite Roman persecution. She fiercely defended the faith, infuriating Emperor Maxentius who ordered her  tortured on a spiked wheel.  The wheel miraculously shattered at her touch.  He ordered her beheaded. 

In Katharine's honor, Queen Matilda, wife of King Stephen, established The Royal Foundation of St. Katharine in 1147 near the Tower of London. It was a religious community and a  hospital  for the poor. The Foundation is now a welcoming retreat center in the Limehouse area serving the  neighborhood and the broad Church.   This angel with bagpipes is an ancient wood carving in the modern St. Katharine's  Chapel.  It was  recovered from the original  Chapel established ca. 1300,  The image is curious  since bagpipes were not known to be in Britain  until the 15th century.  They  are not native to Europe or the British Isles.    According to Robert Worrell in The History of Bagpipes,  "The bagpipe is an instrument of great antiquity, an instrument that has its origins in the Middle East and traveled through and evolved in Europe alongside the diffusion of early civilization." 

 Hildegard of Bingen built her abbey in Rupertsberg on the Rhine in 1150 just after Mathilda founded her Hospital in 1147.  Both communities included women and provided for  the sick and indigent.  1147   marks the beginning of the Second Crusade which expanded travel between Europe and the Middle East. Those travelers  often stopped at abbeys for food, rest,  and medical care.  It is quite possible  that  such travelers  rested  at Hildegard's Abbey. Increased pilgrimages and more trade  brought  Eastern  song and instruments  into Europe. e   Hildegard's music with its highly melismatic flourishes  was likely influenced by Eastern  modes and Arabic reciting tones.  So, with the  bagpiping angel   and Hildegard's exotic chant  we can celebrate the 12th Century blending of East and West.

Songs for two bold saints

Ex Illustri, is a conductus in praise of St. Katharine 

Words and music: Codex Las Huelgas, (14th C. Spain) arr. Robert A. M. Ross

Track 1 on the album Magdalene and the other Mary

Ex illustri nata pro sapia

Catherina candens ut lilium,

Sponsa Chisti, lux in ecclesia,

virgo vernans, sed viri nescia,

Pellens a te viri consortium

te rogamus et tua gracia roget illum,

cuis imperium

sine fine regnat in secula

Quod det nobis celi pelacium.

Ex illustri nata prosapia

Catharina candens ut lilium

et nobelis dono mundicie

crystalina gemma lux virginum

Sponsa Chisti, lux in ecclesia

rosa rubens propter martirium

virga fulgens et nobilíssima

et devicens falsa sophismata

bona docens et viri nescia

fit residens in Dei gloria.

Born of glorious lineage,

Katharine, white as a lily,

and noble with the gift of beauty

crystalline jewel, light of virgins,

was betrothed of Christ, and  a light of the church.

Rose that reddens because of martyrdom 

virgin glowing and most noble conquering false sophistry,

teaching for good, and innocent of any man,

She now resides  in the glory of God.

Track 1, Magdalene and the other Mary

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We sing our praise of Hildegard

Voices Found #7

We sing our praise of Hildegard, a woman for all time

A prophetess who urges us to seek the light divine.

Her vision came insistently, sent by her Living Light.

Anointed with the Spirit’s power, she spoke God’s truth aright.

We now affirm with Hildegard we do not live alone,

But are a part of all that is: each tree, each bird, each stone.

All creatures sing creation’s praise; yet we alone possess

The power to care for mother earth, the power to curse or bless.

We praise the joy the Hildegard found in God’s constant care.

She trusted God to carry her, a feather born on air.

May such a faith inspirit us, give us a breathing space,

That we may let the Spirit’s breeze support us with God’s grace.

We celebrate with Hildegard the greening of the soul.

The moisture from the Spirit’s breath can cleanse us , make us whole.

May we now share life-giving love, help justice ind a home,

And by our deeds sow seeds of peace—prepare for God’s Shalom

Words: Edith Sinclair Downing 

Music: Kingsfold English melody adapt. Ralph Vaughn Williams

Reflection:

Voices Found #54, verse 6

O Holy Spirit, Paraclete,

make strong our hands and swift our feet 

to serve the Christ in all we meet.

Laus tibi spiritus

Words and music Mary Louise Bring after Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

More Voices Found  songs inspired by  Hildegard  

#54 O Holy Spirit

#55 O Holy Spirit, root of life

#56 God of flowing light

#60 Come and seek the ways of Wisdom

#62 O fiery Spirit

#63 I cannot dance, O Love

                                   

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https://www.churchpublishing.org/products/voicesfound2#:~:text=Voices%20Found%3A%20Leaders%20Guide%20presents,the%20basic%20hymns%20and%20songs.