Hymn for the Visitation

Dear friends in Christ,

It is my sincere desire that this text be shared widely and used freely. Please feel free to post it on your blogs or email it to friends. I give permission for its use provided that my copyright notice is kept intact and that no words are altered.

Our Lady of the Sign, pray for us!

God bless us one and all,

Vincent Uher

Lo, how she brings Life with her
Concealed beneath her heart,
Eve's daughter, brave and chosen,
God's partner to his art.
Her will knit with divine will
Desires his Word be done.
For God she weaves within her
The body of their Son.

Elisabeth her cousin
A child will bring to birth -
God's answer to her longing,
A prophet for the Earth.
"Peace be with you," said Mary.
Her cousin's babe did dance
The merry steps of best man:
The Bridegroom's here, at last.

Elisabeth cried out then,
"The child within me leapt!
When he heard your sweet greeting,
With joy my baby stepped."
She spoke full of the Spirit,
With insight from the Lord,
"How is it you come to me
The Mother of my Lord?"

The Mother of her Lord, yes,
Great Mary, Anna's child,
A daughter born to Israel,
A virgin undefiled,
She sang out as a woman
Brought up on Hannah's song,
"O praise, my soul, God's greatness.
Rejoice, our Lord is strong."

All ages call her blessed
Just as she once foretold.
Blest is she amongst women,
Her Child blest from of old.
Blest is she who believes God
Who carries God's true Word.
Her Son both God and human
Fulfils great Gabriel's word.

Our Saviour, God of mercy,
Remembers Abraham's fold.
Praise God who casts down tyrants.
Rejoice! Our God is bold.
So sing we with blest Mary
To magnify the Lord
Who raised up his handmaiden.
Oh, holy is the Lord!

Copyright © 2006 by Vincent William Uher III

A hymn for Visitation, Fourth Advent, and the Nativity of St. John Baptist

This may be sung to the Bohemian Brethren tune Far Off Lands

or to the lovely tune Wie lieblich ist der Maien

The Anglican Use Society of the Roman Catholic Church

Magnificent Speakers!

Important Conference!

All are cordially invited to attend this very important conference!

Featured speakers include:

• Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
  
  
• Fr. John Saward, former Anglican priest and noted English Catholic theologian
  
  
• Fr. James Moore, founding co-pastor of Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church
  
  
• Mary C. Moorman, apologist, author, and consultant
  
  
• Dr. Hans-Jurgen Feulner, Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology at the University of Vienna.

[note from Vincent: Mary Moorman is an expert on the Caroline Divines who were such an important part of my catholic formation in the Anglican Church. Her books are outstanding, and she is one of the few I have read who understand how important the Caroline Divine Mark Frank is to the theological foundation of the catholic wing of the Anglican Church into which I was born.]

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