Trinity Voices Found

 

                                

Voices Found #105

O praise be to you Holy Trinity

O praise be to you Holy Trinity!

To our Mother Great Creator of all things living and of life itself.

O angelic chorus sounding forth in joyful praise!

O the wonderful silent splendor the holy mysteries

Trinity shining brilliance unknown to women or to men.

O quickening sparkle dwelling in all! Lifegiving life!

Life of all things gloriously created!

Words and music Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

Singing translation Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Laus Trinitatis is track # 8 on the recording "Echoes of St. Hildegard."

                                                             

In St. Hildegard's antiphon #17, Laus Trinitati, the Creatrix is named the first person of the Trinity. I have here translated creatrix,  a feminine Latin noun, as Mother Creator. Similarly, in 1969, Sisters Prudentia Barth and Immaculata Ritscher, OSB,  of the Hildegard Abbey, with Joseph Schmidt-Goerg, translated Creatrix to German as Schoepferin, the feminine form of the German noun Schoepfer, Creator. (Lieder, Hildegard von Bingen, Otto Mueller Verlag Salzburg) Thus, we see in the 12th Century of Christendom, a feminine understanding of the Trinity was integral to   Hildegard's writings affirmed by the Synod of Trier  in 1147. At that time the Pope also proclaimed that Hildegard's words and visions were of God, establishing for Christianity a feminine vision of the Divine. 

Readings for Trinity Sunday appointed in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church highlight  feminine understandings  of  God, the Mother Creator, beginning in the Hebrew Scriptures:

Psalm 130:5-8

I wait for the WOMB OF CREATION, my soul waits,

and in her word I hope.

My soul keeps watch for the Creator,

more than those who watch for the morning.

more than those who watch for the morning.

Israel, hope in the MOTHER OF CREATION!

For with the CREATOR OF ALL there is faithful love,

and with her is abundant redemption.

It is she who will redeem Israel

from all of their iniquities.

(tr. Gafney)

Meditation:

In 1996 Jane Hawes wrote "Mothers call upon the Maker," for a hymn festival at Bonhomme  Presbyterian church in Missouri.  During the festival the men were to sing "Rise up, O men of God,"so Hawes thought it appropriate to provide a hymn for the women to sing as well.  At that time no feminine texts could be found so she wrote this one: 

Voices Found #136

Mothers call upon the maker, who will nurture and provide.

Cling to God, just as our children seek protection at our side.

For the Lord is like a mother, God gave all the world his birth.

Mothers praise the great Creator everywhere, throughout the earth.

Daughters call upon the Master: Jesus Christ, God's only son.

Through his childhood growing, learning, he matured as we have done.

Like him, let us grow in wisdom, loving and obeying God.

Daughters, give all praise to Jesus, for he is God's living word.

Sisters, call upon the Spirit Jesus sent to take his place,

to unite us as his people, leading us to truth and grace.

All together as God's children, mothers, daughters, sisters, praise

God: Creator, Son, and Spirit, now, tomorrow, and always.

Words: Jane Hawes

Music: Rustington, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)

Reflection

 I will praise and exalt my God for God's love is everlasting!

Nurturing God, I give you praise!

Holy Son, I proclaim your greatness to all nations!

Eternal Spirit, I will glorify you for you protect me from all harm!

I will exalt my God, and give praise all my life.

(Voices Found # 103, Media Sida, a song of praise from the liturgy of southern Ghana tr. Sr. Gertrude Denkabe, Society of the Holy Child Jesus)

Media Sida is track #5 on the recording "Magdalene and the Other Mary."