From the Organist & Choirmaster
This coming Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Advent, presents us with the Song of Mary. In the Lectionary there is an option to omit the Song of Mary in the Gospel, we have chosen to keep it in, use it as the Canticle, and even as the anthem at Communion. Angelus ad virginem, is the Communion Anthem. It is a medieval carol whose text is a poetic version of the Hail Mary and the Annunciation, where the archangel Gabriel announced that Mary will bear the Son of God. It’s most likely Franciscan in origin and was brought to Britain by French friars in the 13th century. Many say that it originally had 27 stanzas with each stanza beginning with consecutive letters of the alphabet! It now has five verses. The choir will sing a choral arrangement with an exciting accompaniment by Sir David Willcocks. Here is the text:
“Gabriel to Mary came, and entered at her dwelling, With his salvation glad her maiden fears dispelling. all hail, ‘All hail, thou queen of virgins bright! God, Lord of earth and heaven’s height, Thy very Son, shall soon be born in pureness, The Savior of mankind. Thou art the gate of heaven bright.’
‘How could I a mother be that am to man a stranger? How should I my strong resolve, my solemn vows endanger?’ ‘Power from the. Holy Ghost on high shall bring to pass this mystery. Then, have no fear: Be of good cheer, Believing that still thy chastity in God’s almighty keeping shall all unsullied be.’
Then to him the maid replied, With noble mien supernal, ‘Lo! the humble handmaid I, of God the Lord eternal! With thee, bright messenger of heav’n, by whom this wondrous news is giv’n, I well agree and long to see fulfilled thy gracious prophecy. As God my Lord doth will it, so be it unto me!’
Hail! thou Mother of the Lord, who bring’st of gifts the rarest, Peace to angels and to men, when Christ the Lord thou barest! Do thou, we pray, entreat thy Son for us our long’d redemption himself to win, and from our sin release us; His succour for to give, that, when we hence are taken, We too in heav’n may live.”