Voices Found on Easter Day: WLWC Year C, VF 2, 13, 45

     

           

Voices Found #2

Myrrh-bearing Mary 

to death's garden came

seeking her Jesus 

who'd borne the world's blame;

heartsick she stood, 

til she heard the Lord's voice:

"Mary!" he said, "I am risen; rejoice!"

Words: Rae E. Whitney (1927-2023)

Music: Myrrh-bearing Mary, David Hurd

John 20:1-10(11-28) is the Gospel lesson appointed for the Principal Service of Easter Day in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year C

At the tomb, Jesus said to Mary, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. Rather, go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Savior;" and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:17-18, tr. Gafney

 Voices Found # 13

Apostle of the Word

Apostle of the Word

of resurrection grace,

her ears that voice had heard  

her eyes had seen the face,

whose risen power within her heart

bade grief depart one shining hour.

Now in her life was born

a new and glorious faith,

when on that Easter morn

the vanquisher of death

but spoke her name

and found in her a messenger

with heart aflame.

Words: Rosemary Anne Benwell, SSJD, (1915-2001)The Sisterhood of St. John the Divine

Music: Gopsal: George Frederic Handel (1685-1759)

Voices Found # 45

Alleluia!Alleluia!Alleluia!

That Easter morn, at break of day,

a faithful woman went her way

to seek the tomb where Jesus lay,

Alleluia!

Verse One: Words: Jean Tisserand (?-1494)

No longer weeping, anguish bent,

but with rejoicing Mary went.

by Christ, the first apostle sent.

Alleluia!

Alleluia!Alleluia!Alleluia!

Verse four: Delores Dufner, OSB

Music: O filii et filiae, Airs sur les hymnes sacrez, odes et noels, 1623

Voices Found offers  four verses for this ancient  hymn of resurrection.  The first is from the 15th century; the words are attributed to a Franciscan monk, Jean Tisserand,  who founded  an order for penitent women in Paris.  Delores Dufner, contemporary hymnist, wrote three  verses in English which focus on the story of Mary Magdalene, the first apostle sent.  All four verses  are published with music in Voices Found.

https://www.churchpublishing.org/products/voicesfound2

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