A couple of posts and several comments ago, Carol mentioned one of her many loves; you can find out more about St. Brigid here, and also over at Lily’s today! I would like to share this (a curious but beautiful mixture of Latin and Gaelic), sung by Katy Taylor on her CD entitled, “Welcome Brigid”. The first time I heard it I was startled, thinking that the lyrics were identifying St. Brigid and the Blessed Virgin Mary as being one and the same. Then I realized that the song was being addressed to the Blessed Virgin, in praise of St. Brigid. The appropriateness of this became more apparent when I came across an excerpt from an article written by Father Denis Murphy, S.J. in The Journal of the County of Kildare Archeological Society (Vol. I, No. 3; 1893):
Anyway, I hope you enjoy listening to the song! I really love the ending.
Ave Maris Stella/Ode to Brigid
Ave Maris Stella, Dei mater alma
Atque semper virgo, felix, coeli porta
Gabhaim molta Brighde, Iníon í le hÉireann,
Iníon le gach tír í, molaiimís go léir í
Lóchrann geal na Laighneach, soils’ ar feadh na tire,
Ceann ar óigheacht Éireann, ceann na mban ar mine
Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh, gearra lena géire,
Ach ar lá le Brighde, gar duinn Earrach Éireann
Monstra t’esse matrem sumat per te preces
Qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus.
Translation
Hail, star of the sea, sweet mother of God
And always virgin, favorable gate of heaven
I sing loudly the praises of Bridget,
she it is who is a daughter not just of Ireland,
but of all the countries of the world.
Let us all praise her.
A shining lantern of Lenster,
a flame throughout the land,
leader of the women of Ireland,
one of the finest women ever.
The hard dark winter comes, short and sharp,
but once Bridget’s day appears,
Ireland’s Spring is not far behind.
Show yourself to be a mother,
prayers ascend through you
Which for us your Son accepted.
(Gregorian chant and anonymous Irish Gaelic song, 1900, learned from the singing of Nóiirin Ní Riain)
