Sunday
Sep152013

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. 

 

 

 

 

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

EmailEmail Article to Friend

References (6)

References allow you to track sources for this article, as well as articles that were written in response to this article.
  • Response
    Wonderful Nfl Jerseys - Cheapest Price tag On Line
  • Response
    Response: Hollister
    A forgotten gem  - Aggiornamento - The Roncalli Center,Ezt a cikket írt a pontos Azonban, ha azt szeretnénk, hogy lásd a kapcsolódó cikkeket láthatjuk, itt:Hollister,
  • Response
    Response: 数控剪板机
    彩钢瓦生产设备机械厂家联系人手机:13832771638王女士 祁先生1 彩钢瓦生产设备 513 压瓦机 3711101 QQ:59458991 座机:0317-8086188 传真:0317-8086188 压瓦机彩钢板在钢结构中的应用 ...
  • Response
    c84扣板机 来源:http://upfridge.com/product/ggpcxywj/2013/0912/87.html c84扣板机 http://upfridge.com/product/ggpcxywj/2013/0912/87.html 75直角扣板 75直角扣板机 机
  • Response
    当前位置 / 俄罗斯压型设备系列 1050全自动压瓦机 公司本着务实,诚信,秉承用户至上的宗旨,以不求最大 全自动压瓦机 ,彩钢设备知,但求最优为目标,以一流的 产品,合理的价格,至上的服务来答谢广大用户对我们的支持和帮助,愿与各厂家携手共 彩钢设备知 进,共创 产品信息 ,拴规; 拴规
  • Response
    Response: 475角驰机资料
    来源:http://www.66vx.com/product/eluosiyaxingshebeixilie/201 http://www.66vx.com/product/eluosiyaxingshebeixilie/2014/1123/153.html 4/1123/153.html 当前位置 / 俄罗斯压型设备系列 1050全自动压瓦机 全自动压瓦机 公司本着务实,诚信,c84扣板机,脚踏式剪板机,秉承用户至上的宗旨,以不求最大,但求最优为目标,以一流的 产品,合理的价格,至上的服务来答谢广大用户对我们的支持和帮助,愿与各厂家携手共进,共创 产品信息 c84扣板机

Reader Comments

There are no comments for this journal entry. To create a new comment, use the form below.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>
« Being prophets may sometimes imply making waves | Main | A free resource for Ministers of the Word »