THE KINGDOM GROWS IN SILENCE - SONG

 

The Kingdom Grows in Silence

From but a mustard seed so small,
God’s Kingdom once was sown;
A tender shoot through earth arose,
By grace and mercy grown.

Though hidden first from human eyes,
Its roots spread deep and wide;
And weary souls from every land,
Found shelter there to bide.

The birds of air came seeking rest
Within the branches broad;
The weary burdened found their peace,
Beneath the tree of God.

As leaven hidden in the bread,
Moves softly through the whole;
So does Christ’s Mercy gently work,
Within the seeking soul.

No trumpet sound, no worldly throne,
No pride nor earthly fame;
Yet hearts are changed and lives renewed
Through calling on His Name.

So let us walk with humble love,
And ease each other’s strain;
While God doth raise the smallest seed,
To bless our earth again.

Lord, make Thy Church a living tree,
Whose branches open wide;
That all who seek may find true rest
And safely there abide.

Till all creation comes to know,
The peace Thy mercies bring;
And every heart in every land,
Rejoice that Christ is King.

This song may be sung to the public domain tune of "Amazing Grace," whose reflective and prayerful melody beautifully suits the spirit of the Parables of the Leaven and Mustard seed. To be in the public domain, means that it can be used freely without permission.

This hymn was inspired by the writing of GMA Jansen (Fr Norbert OP), page 15 of Pro Veritate Volume V No. 12. Baptism and Co-Existence. 15 April 1967

If you wish to know more about the article "Baptism and Co-Existence," please click in the following link:

https://sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/PvApr67.pdf

With thanks to sahistory.org.za

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing" 

SAINT ATHENAGORAS OF ATHENS - SONG

Saint Athenagoras of Athens

In ages dim of ancient days,
When fear opposed the Christian ways,
There rose a voice so calm and wise,
With mercy shining through his eyes.
Saint Athenagoras stood near,
To speak sweet truth when hearts knew fear;
With patient word and gentle art,
He brought God’s Light to mind and heart.

He answered not with wrathful flame,
Nor sought for gold or earthly fame;
But through the wisdom God had given,
He turned men's thoughts from earth to Heaven.
He taught that life is sacred still,
Not ours to wound by cruel will;
For every soul bears God above,
And each was fashioned by His Love.

He mourned the Cross on Calvary’s hill,
Where Christ fulfilled the Father’s Will;
The Holy Son of God was slain,
Yet rose to break the bonds of pain.
O saint of Athens, pure and mild,
You showed the Face of God’s dear Child;
The loving Lord whose mercies' breadth,
Outshine the sword and conquer death.

Through writings filled with grace and peace,
You taught that hatred too may cease;
That gentle truth and reason fair,
Can lift the soul from deep despair.
And now, dear saint, for us entreat,
That Christ may guide our wandering feet;
That we may take life’s pen each day,
And write God’s Truth along our way.

Within the parchment of the soul,
May Christ the King become the whole;
That all we think and say and do,
May bear His gentle Light anew.
Then when our earthly race is trod,
And we ascend to Heaven and God,
May you behold with joyful gaze
The fruits of faithful Christian ways.

May you then know us there above
By mercy, gentleness, and love;
For in our hearts Christ’s Voice shall ring  -
The Truth you served while witnessing.

This song may be sung to the public domain tune of “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (also known as the Passion Chorale), which carries a solemn and devotional beauty fitting for Saint Athenagoras of Athens.

This song was inspired by the life and works of Saint Athenagoras.

CHURCH FATHERS: A Plea for the Christians

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0205.htm

With thanks to newadvent.org

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Light shines upon Saint Athenagoras"

THE CROSS UNFOLDS A PATH WITHIN

The Cross unfolds a path within

Verse 1
Upon the hill where Christ was slain,
He bore the weight of sin;
A spark was lit within my soul,
New life began within.

Verse 2
No longer bound by sin’s harsh chain,
Its grip is torn away;
A deeper strength now stirs in me,
A light for night and day.

Verse 3
The Cross unfolds a path within,
Where hidden grace is found;
Amid the rush of daily life,
God’s silence speaks profound.

Verse 4
An anchorite within my heart,
A sacred, quiet place;
Where Christ abides in stillness deep,
And fills my soul with grace.

Verse 5
O mystery of Love Divine,
That draws my soul to Thee;
Through Cross and death I rise anew,
In truth and liberty.

Verse 6
So let the world in turmoil turn,
Its fleeting shadows fall;
For Christ now lives and reigns within,
My Life, my Lord, my All.

The above hymn is structured in Common Meter (8.6.8.6) so it can be sung to well-known tunes such as Amazing Grace. The tune "Amazing Grace" is in the public domain. This means that it can be used freely without permission.

The hymn was inspired by Matthew Chapter 27

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "The Cross of Christ" 

A GREAT AND MIGHTY WONDER

 

Devoted Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson, deeply attuned to the mystery of the Incarnation, held a special love for the hymn, "A Great and Mighty Wonder."

During the holy season of Nativity, she gently ensured that the hymn found its place within the liturgy, believing that the ancient words and solemn melody helped to bring hearts into quiet expectation.

For Reverend Vanessa, the hymn was more than music; it was a doorway into contemplation, echoing the eternal Word entering time. The sacred hymn invites all who hear it to prepare with reverence and awe for the coming of Christ.

A GREAT AND MIGHTY WONDER

Verse 1;

A great and mighty wonder, 

A full and holy cure;

The Virgin bears the Infant, 

With Virgin honour pure!

Repeat the hymn again:

"To God on high be glory

And peace on earth to men!" 

Verse 2;

The Word becomes incarnate

And yet remains on high;

And cherubim sing anthems

To shepherds from the sky.

Repeat the hymn again:

"To God on high be glory

And peace on earth to men!"

Verse 3:

While thus they sing your Monarch,

Those bright angelic bands,

Rejoice, ye vales and mountains,

Ye oceans, clap your hands.

Repeat the hymn again:

"To God on high be glory

And peace on earth to men!"

Verse 4:

Since all He comes to ransom,

By all be He adored;

The Infant born in Bethl'em

The Saviour and the Lord.

Repeat the hymn again:

"To God on high be glory

And peace on earth to men!"

Verse 5:

And idol forms shall perish,

And error shall decay,

And Christ shall wield His scepter,

Our Lord and God for aye.

Repeat the hymn again:

"To God on high be glory

And peace on earth to men!"

A Great and Mighty Wonder is an ancient carol based around the words of St Germanus (c 634 - 732), traditionally sung to the tune "Es is ein Ros entsprungen" published in "Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesang" (Köln, Germany, 1599) and harmonised by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621). 

The words of St Germanus were translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866).

                                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snkX6SxWAiw

With thanks to Youtube

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Nativity Scene with Angels and Animals" 

GOD IS MUSIC, GOD IS LIFE

TO the Trinity be praise!

      God is music, God is life

 that nurtures every creature in its kind.

Our God is the song of the angel throng

    and the splendor of secret ways

    hid from all humankind,

But God our life is the life of all.

                              Hildegard of Bingen

                                               Twelfth century

 

THE NOTES SHIMMER

 

YOU take the pen,

    and the lines dance.

You take the flute,

and the notes shimmer....

You take the brush,

and the colours sing.

So all things have meaning and beauty

in that space beyond time where you are.

How, then, can I hold back anything from you?

                                  Dag Hammerskjöld

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "The Three Monks" 

MUSIC IS SWEET FROM THE THRUSH'S THROAT

 

MUSIC is sweet from the thrush's throat!

       Oh little thrush

   With the holy note,

Like a footstep of God in a sick-room's hush

     My soul you crush.

Unstopped organ, from earth you break,

     To knock at the skies,

     And I can but shake

My fragile fetters, and with you rise

    Into Paradise.

But Love, your music requires not wings.    

     To the common breed

      It clings, and sings:

"Heaven on earth is Heaven indeed.

       This is my creed."                                 E.E. Cummings

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle, "Song thrush in bloom with sunlight"