A forgotten gem

In 1975, Oregon Catholic Press (then NALR) released a collection of music called Earthen Vessels, composed and recorded by The St. Louis Jesuits. 38 years later, this collection of liturgical music contains some of the most beloved song hymns in the canon of Catholic music literature. The most famous song within Earthen Vessel's treasure chest is Be Not Afraid. Quite often, this beloved song is now considered part of traditional Catholic repertoire by faithful church goers and disenfranchised Catholics alike. Lesser used but no less potent music literature from the Earthen Vessel collection are Sing To The Mountains, If God Is For Us and Turn To Me. If you are a new pastoral musician and just beginning to practice your ministry in a parish or school, your assembly will probably know several songs from Earthen Vessels collection. Check it out on the Oregon Catholic Press website. 

This morning, I hoped to hear My Son Has Gone Away by Bob Dufford, S.J. found within the treasury of Earthen Vessels. The song finds its scriptural roots in the Gospel of Luke 15: 1-10, the parable of the Prodigal Son. Like the parable, My Son Has Gone Away is haunting in its simplicity and reflects the anguish of a heartsick parent whose child goes astray, walking the path of self-destructive behavior. Wounded parents who watch helplessly as a son or daughter chooses darkness over light sears despair into the soul of parents who survive such an experience. My Son Has Gone Away will resonate deeply with members of our assemblies who lay this heavy burden on the Eucharistic table each week and with those who accompany those parents on this painful journey. 

The straightforward setting includes an arpeggio guitar that accompanies the solo line set for voice. An oboe interlude gives the listener of My Son Has Gone Away an opportunity to soak in the first verse and poignant refrain "Jerusalem, Jerusalem; how could you run away....I'll wait for you, I'll stay," rehearses magnanimous mercy and grace of God for us all. Verse two of My Son Has Gone Away reflects the overwhelming despair and the patient persistence of parents who love beyond love's brink and live to hope for their child's safe return. "Perhaps my son is tired and cold; perhaps his heart is sad. Tonight I'll go and watch for him and wait for his return." 

Bob Dufford's composition My Son Has Gone Away seems to be missing from liturgy planners. Unless you know the Earthen Vessels collection, this haunting song has fallen off the radar. Perhaps the reason that the song never emerges in liturgy planners is because this plaintive composition is not meant to be sung by an assembly but clearly written as a reflection on the parable of the Prodigal Son. We suggest using My Song Has Gone Away as a reflection on a relevant and poignant homily at the Preparation of Gifts or as a post-Communion song. This simple, tender song of unconditional love never grows old and neither does its theme. Reconciliation, pardon, mercy and grace occur throughout the three cycles of liturgical scripture; this song is a gem that is often overlooked as a beautiful resource of musical prayer.

My Son Has Gone Away has the potential to dig deeply into the assembly's prayer to embrace heart sick parents of children who have turned from faith and the community. Astute pastoral leaders know their people and hear those stories as do members of the assembly who know parents of a prodigal child and the child. My Son Has Gone Away opens the door of opportunity to homilists and pastoral musicians to speak to the heart of faith through powerful artistry.