Voices Found: The Good Word, Annunciation Year C, VF 3, 18, 152

                                           
 

From the Las Huelgas Codex of medieval Spain

Voices Found #3

Verbum Bonum, a  joyful processional chant,  hails Mary as   "the one who bore Daylight, ark of the new covenant, sign in the thorn bush, and the mistress of angels. " Dating from the  the  13th century, this chant was compiled and copied into the Las Huelgas manuscript by the nuns of that Spanish convent. The text celebrates  Mary as  bride of the highest Word who delivered the Christ child into our fallen world, to amend us, and asks her to commend us as amended, to her Son the Christ.

Verbum bonum

Voices Found # 3

1a. Verbum bonum et suave personemus illud Ave

per quod Christi fit conclave virgo, mater, filia.

1b. Per quod Ave salutata mox concepit fecundata 

virgo David, stirpenata interspinas lilia.

2a. Ave veri Salomonis, mater, vellus Gedeonis

cuius magi tribus donis laudant  puerperium

2b. Ave solem genuisti, ave, prolem protulisti

mundo lapso contulisti vitam et imperium

3a. Ave, sponsa Verbisummi, maris portus,

signum dumi, aromatum virga fumi, angelorum domina

3b. Supplicamus, nos emenda, emendatos nos commenda tuo nato ad habenda

sempiterna gaudia.

Amen

Words: Codex Las Heulgas, 14th c.  tr Mary H. Stewart

Music: The Las Heulgas Manuscript, 14th c. ed. Gordon A. Anderson, American Institute of Musicology, arr. Robert A.M. Ross

Translation:

 Let us sound out the word pure and sweet,

that Ave, through which the virgin, a mother's daughter,

became the chamber of Christ.

that Ave, mother of the true Solomon, fleece of Gideon,

whose childbirth the magi praised with three gifts.

Ave, you who bore Daylight;

Ave, you brought forth an offspring into a fallen world

you brought life and order.

Ave, bride of the highest Word,

safe harbor from the sea

sign in the thorn bush

source of fragrant incense, mistress of angels,

amend us we plea

and amended, commend us to your son

that we might have eternal joy.

Voices Found # 18

Rejoice for women brave,

who laughed and cried and sang,

who listened to angels,

believed their God,

from them salvation sprang.

Rejoice for Sarah's mirth; 

she listened laughingly,

in joy she brought forth a new nation, 

saying all will laugh with me.

Your gracious love divine,

like Miriam we proclaim.

May we now sing praise and with Mary

magnify your holy name.

Words: Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Music: Mayfair, Frances McCollin, (1892-1960)

Sarah bravely listened as the angel  announced on a mountain that she would bear a son in her old age. She laughed. But she really wanted a son so she joined her beloved husband Abraham in their tent, saying "Am I to have pleasure in my old age?" When she brought forth her child she said, "Now all will laugh with me." (Genesis 21:6)

 Mary listened to Gabriel, "Rejoice, favored one!  The Most High God is with you."  The messenger told her that she would conceive and bear a son. She was  afraid.  Gabriel said "Fear not!  Nothing will be impossible with God."  Then Mary said,"let it be with me according to your word." (Luke 1:26-38 tr. Gafney)

Voices Found #152

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior,

for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

you, the Almighty, have done great things for me, and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you from generation to generation.

You have shown the strength of your arm

and have scattered the proud in their conceit,

Casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly.

You have filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the help of your servant Israel,

for you remembered your promise of mercy,

The promise you made to our forebears, to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen

Words: The Song of Mary, Enriching our Worship 1

Music: Melody from Antiphon 17, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), adapt. Lisa Neufeld Thomas

Meditation

How has God lifted you up from fear, from lowliness?

Give thanks to the Most High

How can you lift up a brother or sister's soul?

Reach out to a neighbor.

How can you give glory to God?

Sing and pray, give thanks to your Gracious God, for She is Good!

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For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found