I Have Seen the Lord: Suite for St

I Have Seen the Lord: Suite for St. Mary of Magdala Roger Stratton

I Heōraka ton Kyrion I have seen the Lord

II Serving Christ, who became one of us for our sake, and setting your soul and mind afire with continual radiance, you became light, O blessed Mary.

(Sticheron for the feast of Mary Magdalene, Byzantine Rite)

III O mundi lampas, et margaríta praefúlgida, O lamp of the world, and bright-shining pearl, quae resurrectiónem Christi nuntiando, who by announcing the Resurrection of Christ, Apostolórum Apóstola fíeri meruisti! was found worthy to be the Apostle to the Apostles! María Magdaléna, Mary Magdalene, semper pia exoratrix pro nobis adsis be always for us a loving intercessor to God, ad Deum, qui te elégit. who chose you.

(Antiphon at the Magnificat, feast of Mary Magdalene, Roman Rite)

IV O Maria, noli flere, O Mary, do not weep. Iam non quæras alium, Seek no further. Hortulanus hic est vere, The true gardener is here Et colonus mentium, and the cultivator of the mind. Intra mentis hortum quære Seek in the garden of the mind Mentis operarium. the worker of the mind.

Unde planctus et lamentum? Why do you weep and lament? Quid mentem non erigis? Why do you not raise your mind? Quid revolvis monumentum? Why do you turn to the tomb? Tecum est, quem diligis, He is with you, he whom you love. Iesum quæris, et inventum You sought Jesus and found him, Habes nec intelligis. You do not understand.

Unde gemis unde ploras? Why sigh, why weep? Verum habes gaudium, You have true joy. In te latet, quod ignoras The relief of your pain is hidden within you, Doloris solatium, And you do not know. Intus habes, quæris foras You have it inside, but you look outside Languoris remedium. for your illness’s remedy.

(Sarum Breviary, feast of Mary Magdalene)

V You learned from Christ himself, and preached his precepts for the deliverance of our souls, O blessed one, you pour forth inexhaustible faith and enlightenment on all who take refuge in you.

(Sticheron for the feast of Mary Magdalene, Byzantine Rite)

VI Then Jesus said: "Maryam" She turned and said to him: "Rabbouni!"

(John 20:16)

VII Go to my brothers and sisters, Go to my brothers and sisters, and tell them: I return to the Source of Life, to your God and mine. I return to the Source of Life, your life and mine.

(John 20:17b; Introit for the feast of Mary Magdalene, modern Roman Rite)

VIII I have seen the Lord. I have seen the Light of the world. I have tasted life from the living vine. I have heard my name. The Spirit breathes on me. This is my story, and this is my message to you— that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

Open your eyes and lift up your hearts. Live in the light of a new creation. Open your arms to the needs of the world For death has died. You have nothing to fear.

I have seen the Lord…

Cast off the demons of power and pride. Live in the boundless love of Jesus. Welcome the stranger, the poor and the lost For death has died. You have nothing to fear.

I have seen the Lord…

Cling to the truth but not to the past. Live in the hope of a new day dawning. Spread the good news to the ends of the world That death has died. You have nothing to fear.

I have seen the Lord…

(RS, quoting Julian of Norwich & Fanny Crosby)

IX Then Mary rose, and greeted the disciples, saying:

Do not weep, Do not grieve, Do not be in doubt, For the grace of God will be with you And the grace of God will protect you.

Do not weep, Do not grieve, Do not be in doubt, But praise the greatness of the Lord, Who has prepared us And made us fully human.

(Gospel of Mary 5:4-8)