Between St. Patrick and St. Brigid, the columns of the Irish, there was so great a friendship of charity that they had but one heart and one mind. . .
-Book of Armagh, 8th century
The Mass for Saints Patrick and Brigid is a complete musical setting of the 2010 Mass Ordinary texts in English and Irish Gaelic scored for SATB choir with soprano solo, harp, uilleann pipes, organ, and violin. The Mass also includes Invitatory, Entrance, Offertory, Communion, and Closing Songs, the lyrics of which echo the prayers and visions of both Patrick and Brigid.
A text from an old Irish prayer forms the opening Invitatory for soprano solo and pianissimo choir:
I will lift up my own heart,
I will lift up my voice,
I will praise Him forever for each wonder great.
Hear, O Lord my prayer,
Come abide in my breast,
Quiet my soul,
And within my mind make thy dwelling, O God.
The text of the Entrance Song, Splendid the Treasure, comes from an old Irish prayer and offers thanks for the invitation to the holy banquet-- reflecting the desire of St. Brigid whose greatest wish was to host a banquet for all of heaven.
Splendid the treasure of thy holy banquet, given to us in flesh and in blood;
Put not your hope in fine gold or fair riches: Fleeting as mist, compared to thy food.
The words of the Offertory Song, Anahorish, O Iosa, are from poet Stephen Myers. He explains:
"Anahorish" is the name of a place in Ireland, also the title of a poem by Seamus Heaney about that place. Literally, Heaney says, it means "place of clear water." I've used it as a metaphor here: Iosa (Jesus) as the source of clear water." In the foreword of the Mass, Brother Michael O'Neill McGrath adds, "the springs of Anahorish, which grow to flow through Patrick's northern Irish homeland, beautifully symbolize the river of Christ's love flowing down the generations- a love which Patrick himself introduced to the Celtic world." We are also reminded of the Baptismal waters which first welcomed us to Christ.
Anahorish O Íosa, pure water of Grace,
Pure source of forgiveness, Pure fountain of Peace;
O Glamour of rivers, O Glitter of tides,
O Íosa, Spring of mercy, my love, my Guide.
O Íosa as the rowan be green in my heart,
Be the dazzle of hazel the moon drapes in light;
Be the softness of showers, be firmness of stone;
In dread hours and death hours do not leave me alone.
Without you O Íosa, the earth fades and fails,
The stars lose their luster, the blue of heaven pales;
Without you, I am weakness and wordless and wind.
O Íosa walk before me and walk thou behind.
In the Communion Song, the refrain "Splendid the Treasure" pairs with the familiar Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick. Thus, in the Eucharist, the vision of these two saints who shared "one heart and one mind" is fulfilled- a heavenly banquet which offers the presence of Christ within and all around.
The Mass closes with a reprise of the final verse of the Offertory song for full choir and descant. We ask to depart as followers of Christ.
-Book of Armagh, 8th century
The Mass for Saints Patrick and Brigid is a complete musical setting of the 2010 Mass Ordinary texts in English and Irish Gaelic scored for SATB choir with soprano solo, harp, uilleann pipes, organ, and violin. The Mass also includes Invitatory, Entrance, Offertory, Communion, and Closing Songs, the lyrics of which echo the prayers and visions of both Patrick and Brigid.
A text from an old Irish prayer forms the opening Invitatory for soprano solo and pianissimo choir:
I will lift up my own heart,
I will lift up my voice,
I will praise Him forever for each wonder great.
Hear, O Lord my prayer,
Come abide in my breast,
Quiet my soul,
And within my mind make thy dwelling, O God.
The text of the Entrance Song, Splendid the Treasure, comes from an old Irish prayer and offers thanks for the invitation to the holy banquet-- reflecting the desire of St. Brigid whose greatest wish was to host a banquet for all of heaven.
Splendid the treasure of thy holy banquet, given to us in flesh and in blood;
Put not your hope in fine gold or fair riches: Fleeting as mist, compared to thy food.
The words of the Offertory Song, Anahorish, O Iosa, are from poet Stephen Myers. He explains:
"Anahorish" is the name of a place in Ireland, also the title of a poem by Seamus Heaney about that place. Literally, Heaney says, it means "place of clear water." I've used it as a metaphor here: Iosa (Jesus) as the source of clear water." In the foreword of the Mass, Brother Michael O'Neill McGrath adds, "the springs of Anahorish, which grow to flow through Patrick's northern Irish homeland, beautifully symbolize the river of Christ's love flowing down the generations- a love which Patrick himself introduced to the Celtic world." We are also reminded of the Baptismal waters which first welcomed us to Christ.
Anahorish O Íosa, pure water of Grace,
Pure source of forgiveness, Pure fountain of Peace;
O Glamour of rivers, O Glitter of tides,
O Íosa, Spring of mercy, my love, my Guide.
O Íosa as the rowan be green in my heart,
Be the dazzle of hazel the moon drapes in light;
Be the softness of showers, be firmness of stone;
In dread hours and death hours do not leave me alone.
Without you O Íosa, the earth fades and fails,
The stars lose their luster, the blue of heaven pales;
Without you, I am weakness and wordless and wind.
O Íosa walk before me and walk thou behind.
In the Communion Song, the refrain "Splendid the Treasure" pairs with the familiar Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick. Thus, in the Eucharist, the vision of these two saints who shared "one heart and one mind" is fulfilled- a heavenly banquet which offers the presence of Christ within and all around.
The Mass closes with a reprise of the final verse of the Offertory song for full choir and descant. We ask to depart as followers of Christ.