Major General James G. Blunt

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O Mary of Graces is a traditionally Catholic Marian hymn based on an ancient Irish prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Two versions of the hymn exist based on differing translations made of the original prayer by Priest Douglas Hyde and J. Rafferty, with the Hyde version being more popular.

In modern history, the hymn has been present in a number of hymnals, weddings, and music performances by Catholic schools. Covers of the hymn have also been made by religious sister congregations including the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior and the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary.

Translation

The hymn originates from an ancient Irish prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus.[1][2] It was later translated into English and turned into a hymn by the Priest Douglas Hyde (1860–1949), and another man named J. Rafferty.[3] The differing translations of the prayer became two versions of the hymn, which despite a difference in translation and melody patterns, hold very similar rhythms.[3]

Below, the two versions of the hymn are displayed. Both versions are formatted the same way the Hyde version was displayed in the May 1914 newspaper segment from the The Catholic Columbian as to aid in comparison.[1]

The Hyde version of the hymn is sometimes performed with variations,[a] including a variation with an additional three verses added onto the end not present in the Rafferty version.[3]

Modern usage

In modern history, the hymn is used traditionally in Catholic settings. The Hyde version of the hymn specifically, which is more commonplace than its counterpart, has been used in at least three hymnals,[6][7] and was the version used in a cover of the hymn by the Catholic religious sisters congregation, the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior, for their likewise-named 1998 album "Mary of Graces".[8][9]

Other instances of the Hyde and other, unclear, versions of the hymn have been performed for music recitals at the Southwestern Louisiana Institute,[10] by the glee club at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in New York,[2] by the glee club at St. Mary's Star of the Sea School in Pennsylvania,[11] for a record by the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary in Pennsylvania,[12] by the glee club at Columbus Catholic High School in Wisconsin,[13] for a music festival by St. Mary's School of Neillsville in Wisconsin,[14] and at a number of Catholic weddings.[15][16][17][18] A unique version of the hymn beginning with an oboe solo was also created by composer William Ferris Chorale in 2007.[19][20]

The hymn has been performed by choirs, duets, and orchestras, which are sometimes accompanied instruments, including: guitars, harps, organs, synthesizers,[3] oboes,[19] and/or violins.[21] The hymn is uncommonly performed using the traditional Gaelic language, but sung in the same rhythm as one of the two modern versions.[3]

References

Notelist

  1. ^ An less-common version of the hymn sometimes referred to as the 'Laoghaire version'[4] draws its origins from the Hyde version,[5] only differing slightly in the translation of some words.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c "Seasonable Meditation for Members of the Apostleship". The Catholic Columbian. Vol. 39, no. 21. Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus. 22 May 1914. p. 3. Retrieved 29 December 2023 – via JSTOR.
  2. ^ a b "Academy Seniors Plan Class Day". The Union and Echo. Vol. 77, no. 19. Buffalo, New York. 15 May 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "O Mary of Graces". GodSongs.net. September 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Virginia Eaton Chauvin Weds Ensign Joseph Simon Brown III". Abbeville Meridional. Vol. 107, no. 25. Abbeville, Louisiana. 23 June 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "O Mary Of Graces | Sioban Ni Laoghaire" (PDF). Choral Public Domain Library. Retrieved 2 January 2024. Anonymous, Translated By Fr. Douglas Hyde
  6. ^ "O Mary of graces and mother of God". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  7. ^ Ayen, Leo D. (14 August 1959). "In Church Choirs". Rutland Herald. Vol. 106, no. 194. Rutland, Vermont. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com. O Mary of Graces, Pius X Hymnal
  8. ^ "Mary of Graces". Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Mary of Graces". Spotify. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Students of Organ Present Recital". The Daily Advertiser. No. 299. Lafayette, Louisiana. 9 April 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "St. Patrick's Program At Branchdale March 17". Pottsville Republican. Vol. 159, no. 117. Pottsville, Pennsylvania. 16 March 1965. p. 9. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Record Due This Month". The Evening Independent. Vol. 97, no. 276. Massillon, Ohio. 1 May 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Chorus Concert to Be Given at Columbus Auditorium Sunday". The Marshfield News-Herald. Vol. 45, no. 59. Marshfield, Wisconsin. 14 May 1965. p. 8. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Many Attend Music Festival Held at Loyal". The Marshfield News-Herald. Vol. 41, no. 14. Marshfield, Wisconsin. 22 March 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Jacqueline Marie Moffatt Weds Charles William McCoy Jr. In Pretty Ceremony At St. Peter Claver Catholic Church". Minneapolis Spokesman. No. 29. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 13 February 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Beverly Wells Bride Today Of T.R. Cullen Jr". Oswego Palladium-Times. Vol. 35, no. 137. Oswego, New York. 13 June 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Miss Coco Bride of D.A. Simpson". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Vol. 87, no. 141. Alexandria, Louisiana. 4 August 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Miss Elizabeth Joyce Dupuy Is Wed To Pierre Rabalais". The Weekly News. Vol. 124, no. 36. Marksville, Louisiana. 4 September 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b Todd, Richard (8 December 2007). "Christmas | William Ferris: Snowcarols". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Canada. p. 104. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ William Ferris Chorale (29 September 2014). O Mary of Graces (YouTube). The Orchard Enterprises. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  21. ^ "O Mary of Graces". Loyola University Chicago. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Mary_of_Graces