Voices Found: All Saints Day, Be your names remembered in the heart of God: VF 12
Litany for the Sisters of the Christ
Voices Found 12
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Sisters of the Christ, you who nursed the truth, gave him to be blessed. wrapped him in your love:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Women at the birth, women at the death,
you who washed the body, found the Jesus life:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
You who stood the fire, sisters drowned and hung,
witches you were named, martyrs you have died:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
You who taught the Word, preached in foreign tongues,
cried aloud at war, sang in prison cells:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
You who lived the creeds, you who kept the hearth,
laid in quiet graves, never given praise:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
You who cherish life, struggle on for peace,
equal as disciples, woman spirit strong:
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Be your names remembered in the heart of God.
Words: Shirley Erena Murray
Music: CCW Sparks, arr. Robert A.M. Ross
Organized in 1997, the Voices Found hymnal committee, was thrilled to find and share songs to celebrate women saints. Except for hymns to the Virgin Mary, very little music by or about women was available in Episcopal hymnals at that time. "The first one ever," by Linda Egan is is one of fewer than 10 hymns by women composers in the Hymnal 1982. Inspired by Egan's ballad, in 1996 Susan Marie Smith wrote "North Africa's mothers," to celebrate St.Monica and her own ordination on May 4, Monica's feast day. Today, Voices Found offers a myriad of songs and chants for women saints including music for Julian, Hildegard, Mary, Elizabeth, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, the Memphis Martyrs, Florence Nightingale, and Theresa of Avila.
North Africa's mothers gave rise to the faith
Voices Found #9, verses 1 and 3
North Africa's mothers gave rise to the faith
like Monica, woman of worship and prayer,
her devotion converted a husband, two sons
and blessed is she who believes.
Oh Jesus, the guest, made his friends hearts to turn--
God's gift is a grace, not a work to be earned--
'twer Mary and Martha, dear friends of our Christ, and blessed are they, are they who yearn
O blessed are they who burn with the truth,
oh blessed are they who learn;
'twere Martha and Mary who listened to Christ
and blessed are they, are they who yearn.
Words: Susan Marie Smith
Music: Beatitude, Robert A.M. Ross
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