an english latin oratorio for soloists,choir and orchestra
The oratorio 'Mary' is the companion English version of the 'Maria' German Oratorio which uses scriptures from Luther's 1545 Bible. The libretto presents various cameos in the life of Mary from the Gospels, including the Annunciation to the Wedding Feast of Cana and the Crucifixion, Mary at the foot of the Cross and the Woman Clothed with the Sun as described in the book publications. These passages are interspersed with settings of the traditional Latin hymns in honor of Mary, as well as a setting of Our Father in Latin and English along with some antiphons from the liturgy. It would be hoped that the performance of this work would bring Christians of all backgrounds closer to Jesus and in honor of Mary who the Bible says is the most holy of all women.
the annunciation
Ave Maria!
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glorious things are spoken of you O mary!
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the wedding feast of cana
Do whatever He tells you!
a woman clothed with the sun revelations 12
'And a great sign appeared in the Heaven - a woman clothed with the sun.
Revelations 12:1
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Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Mary
The Assumption of Mary
"There is no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we don't know. And since the Holy Spirit hasn't told us about it, we can't make it an article of faith...it's enough to know that she lives in Christ" 15. August 1522
The Immaculate Conception
"It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary's soul was affected without original sin; So that the very infusion of her should she also be cleansed from original sin and adorned with God's gifts and receive a pure soul, infused by God; So, from the first moment she began to live, she was free from all sins, She is full of grace, proclaiming to be without sin - something exceedingly great. For God's grace fills them with every good and removes their misfortune from every evil. (Personal "small" prayer book 1527)
"There is no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we don't know. And since the Holy Spirit hasn't told us about it, we can't make it an article of faith...it's enough to know that she lives in Christ" 15. August 1522
The Immaculate Conception
"It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary's soul was affected without original sin; So that the very infusion of her should she also be cleansed from original sin and adorned with God's gifts and receive a pure soul, infused by God; So, from the first moment she began to live, she was free from all sins, She is full of grace, proclaiming to be without sin - something exceedingly great. For God's grace fills them with every good and removes their misfortune from every evil. (Personal "small" prayer book 1527)
Devotion to Mary
"Devotion to Mary is inscribed in the depths of the human heart'.(Sermon 1. September 1522)
(She is the) supreme woman and the noblest jewel in Christianity after Christ. She is nobility, wisdom and holiness embodied. We can never honor them enough. Yet honor and praise must be given to them, lest they offend Christ and Scripture. (Sermon Christmas 1531)
"Devotion to Mary is inscribed in the depths of the human heart'.(Sermon 1. September 1522)
(She is the) supreme woman and the noblest jewel in Christianity after Christ. She is nobility, wisdom and holiness embodied. We can never honor them enough. Yet honor and praise must be given to them, lest they offend Christ and Scripture. (Sermon Christmas 1531)
THE BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD
IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
'In the public life of Jesus, Mary makes significant appearances. This is so even at the very beginning, when at the marriage feast of Cana, moved with pity, she brought about by her intercession the beginning of miracles of Jesus the Messiah.(291) In the course of her Son's preaching she received the words whereby in extolling a kingdom beyond the calculations and bonds of flesh and blood, He declared blessed(292) those who heard and kept the word of God, as she was faithfully doing.(293) After this manner the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan,(294) grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth. Finally, she was given by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross as a mother to His disciple with these words: "Woman, behold thy son". (182).
Vatican Council Lumen Gentium Chapter 8:58
IN THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
'In the public life of Jesus, Mary makes significant appearances. This is so even at the very beginning, when at the marriage feast of Cana, moved with pity, she brought about by her intercession the beginning of miracles of Jesus the Messiah.(291) In the course of her Son's preaching she received the words whereby in extolling a kingdom beyond the calculations and bonds of flesh and blood, He declared blessed(292) those who heard and kept the word of God, as she was faithfully doing.(293) After this manner the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan,(294) grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth. Finally, she was given by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross as a mother to His disciple with these words: "Woman, behold thy son". (182).
Vatican Council Lumen Gentium Chapter 8:58
MARY - A SIGN OF UNITY...
"For 500 years, Protestants and Catholics have seen division. The 20th-century ecumenical movement has brought healing and new understanding between divided communities, but more needs to be done. The music of Cormac O'Duffy offers such a thing Opportunity - in meditating on Mary's words and her praise of God, we not only pray with her but also come together in worship and reflection on our common heritage and the unity that is possible in Christ. "
Beth Kreitzer: Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities, Marymount California University and author of _Reforming Mary: Images of the Virgin Mary in Sixteenth-Century Lutheran Sermons (Oxford, 2004)
"For 500 years, Protestants and Catholics have seen division. The 20th-century ecumenical movement has brought healing and new understanding between divided communities, but more needs to be done. The music of Cormac O'Duffy offers such a thing Opportunity - in meditating on Mary's words and her praise of God, we not only pray with her but also come together in worship and reflection on our common heritage and the unity that is possible in Christ. "
Beth Kreitzer: Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities, Marymount California University and author of _Reforming Mary: Images of the Virgin Mary in Sixteenth-Century Lutheran Sermons (Oxford, 2004)
