November is a rich month in our Church Calendar. The Church prepares us for the long stint of dark by reminding us of our lights. We take in our “communion” with them like it was food for our long dark journey to the light of the world. We are reminded that our job is to go forth and not be stingy about using the gifts that are ours. KC
This poem was also famously put to music by England’s famous modern composer Benjamin Britten [1913-1976] as ‘Hymn to St. Cecilia, Op. 27’ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGyB7_2RnS4]. Feast day November 22. If you’ve heard Britten take advantage of the above link.
With reverent cadence and subtle psalm,
Like a black swan as death came on
Poured forth her song in perfect calm:
And by ocean’s margin this innocent virgin
Constructed an organ to enlarge her prayer,
And notes tremendous from her great engine
Thundered out on the Roman air.
Blonde Aphrodite rose up excited,
Moved to delight by the melody,
White as an orchid she rode quite naked
In an oyster shell on top of the sea;
At sounds so entrancing the angels dancing
Came out of their trance into time again,
And around the wicked in Hell’s abysses
The huge flame flickered and eased their pain.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
I have no shadow
To run away from,
I only play.
I cannot err;
There is no creature
Whom I belong to,
Whom I could wrong.
I am defeat
When it knows it
Can now do nothing
By suffering.
All you lived through,
Dancing because you
No longer need it
For any deed.
I shall never be Different. Love me.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
O calm of spaces unafraid of weight,
Where Sorrow is herself, forgetting all
The gaucheness of her adolescent state,
Where Hope within the altogether strange
From every outworn image is released,
And Dread born whole and normal like a beast
Into a world of truths that never change:
Restore our fallen day; O re-arrange.
O dear white children casual as birds,
Playing among the ruined languages,
So small beside their large confusing words,
So gay against the greater silences
Of dreadful things you did: O hang the head,
Impetuous child with the tremendous brain,
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain,
Lost innocence who wished your lover dead,
Weep for the lives your wishes never led.
O cry created as the bow of sin Is drawn across our trembling violin.
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain.
O law drummed out by hearts against the still
Long winter of our intellectual will.
That what has been may never be again.
O flute that throbs with the thanksgiving breath
Of convalescents on the shores of death.
O bless the freedom that you never chose.
O trumpets that unguarded children blow
About the fortress of their inner foe.
O wear your tribulation like a rose.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
THE SEED(Ps. 126:61)
Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown.
Why do you weep?
For the precious seed.
The joy I might have today
I’m going out to cast it away
The pain sears me; is this a whim?
There’s little hope it will come back again.
Lord, I could have that joy today!
No, throw it away.
With the dregs of this day’s sorrow
You’re investing in the eternal tomorrow
Yes, weep, for it’s a loss
Cast it. Take up your cross.
Sink into the furrow.
You won’t feel like a hero.
They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (Ps. 126:6)
Like men dreaming, “This is too good to be true!”
I sacrificed my little seed
But how abundantly God multiplied you!
Thirty, sixty, a hundred-thousand fold
It’s too marvelous to behold!
Restore our fortunes O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. (Ps. 126:4)
Your life is an exile from your eternal destiny.
You have in your hands one precious seed.
The furrow is before you, beckoning you to trust
While fears haunt you—And decide you must.
Will you go through life casting your precious seed,
dying in the furrow for sake of eternity?
Or will you latch on to the pleasures that lay at hand(Ps. 126:61)
And fail to fulfill the Master’s plan?
Maria Reinagal 2013
1 Taken from the Feast of St. James, Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.
Editor’s Note: The image above is from the Church of St. Cecelia in Rome. It is the work of the sculptor Maderno who was present when the body was exhumed in 1599. Cecelia was martyred around 180! She was sealed up in her own calderium and the heat turned up. When she did not die after three days a soldier was ordered to go in and kill her. When her body was first moved from the catacombs it was found to be incorrupt, complete with the blow to her neck that finally killed her and dried blood on the rich clothing. This statue is a sworn representation of what the witnesses, including Maderno, saw when she was exhumed after 1300 years. The Pope at that time commissioned this piece as a witness to her sainthood. Maderno even inscribes, in the marble in front of the body, that this is an accurate depiction of what he saw. You can view it for yourself at St. Cecelia in Trastevere which was built attached to her actual home. You can also stand in the calderium where she died.
KathrynCunningham
Kathryn is a retired junior high teacher. A convert with a love for the Church she believes that its teachings have a more than viable application for today's world. She writes practical theological for the people in the pews believing that they have as much right to good catechesis as our youth and converts. Her writings appear on Catholic web sites and local Church publications. She has even been published in the diocese of Australia and most recemtly Zenit. Kathryn holds a Master's in Theology and is a certified spiritual director. Learn more about Kathryn at: www.atravelersview.org