Celtic Mass for the Sea

When we lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I invited the composers of the Celtic Mass for the Sea, Scott Macmillan  and Jennyfer Brickenden to join us for a study and discussion session about their CBC commissioned composition based on traditional sources. They were very gracious in their response and eventually a number of the members of the study group heard the Mass performed in the city. 

I appreciated the richness of the lyrics and music and was particularly taken by the phrase attributed to one of the three patron saints of Ireland, Columba: "he who tramples on the world, he tramples on himself."

This may be St. Patrick's Day but we can appreciate the full scope of the Celtic Christian tradition in the midst of the Climate Crisis which is arguably a greater pandemic than the serious COVID-19

Here are the lyrics for the Celtic Mass of the Sea. 

Introit
Now lay thine ear against this golden sand, And thou shalt hear the music of the sea,
Those hollow tunes it plays against the land- I have lain hours, and fancied in its tone I have heard the languages of ages gone.
East and by North Send thine eyes forth  Over waves with great whales foaming,
Where sportive seals Dance their wild reels   Through mighty floodtides roaming.
He who tramples on the world …………. He tramples on himself.

Kyrie
God of the elements, Have mercy on us. King of the elements, Have mercy on us.
Spirit of the elements,  Close over us……………….Ever eternally
Oh strangely glorious and beautiful sea! Sounding forever mysteriously,
Why are thy billows still rolling on With their wild and sad musical tone?
Why is there never repose for thee? Why slumberest not, oh mighty sea

Gloria
Glory be to Thee, O God of life, Maker of wond’rous works,
Great bright heaven with its angels, The white-waved sea on earth.

Liturgy
First Reading:
“I”, spoke the sea; the whale haunted sea, the dwelling of seals, the home of creatures: “From the beginning of creation I am without age, without corruption of the earth, I expect no loss from decay for original sin has not touched me”.

Liturgy
Second Reading:
Salmon leap from the womb of the white-sea you look on
They are calves and they are lambs of good colour
You are the fairest of all fish that roam the sea,
Lord of the restless ocean wave.
Brown crab, cockle, oyster, Mussel, “bruiteag”, limpet, lobster,
Bearded mussel, “miaseg”, scallop- Lobster, squid, green crab,
Red crab, sea-shore flea, Whelk, whorl, barnacle And crafty sea-urchin,
Slender sand-eel and razor-fish, Hose-fish, black-snout, limpet-
O, God of the sea, Put weed in the drawing wave
To enrich the ground To shower on us food
That it may please Thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth and restore and continue to us the blessings of the sea. Let not our faults or our frailty bring disaster upon us.
Tiny plant life keeps us living, Sea weeds till we reach our landing.
Food and drink and tiny plant life, Tiny plant life on swelling oceans.
Produce of sea to land, Produce from land to sea;
He who doeth not in time Scant will be his share!
Iur-aibh o hi Iur-aibh o ho
On the hillside I recline  Ho i ho rionn ei-le
Iur-aibh o hi Iur-aibh o ho
Ever yearning for the lost,  Ho i ho rionn ei-le
Iur-aibh o hi Iur-aibh o ho
Ever looking to the west,  Ho i ho rionn ei-le
Iur-aibh o hi Iur-aibh o ho
Where the sun sets in the sea.  Ho i ho rionn ei-le

Credo
Creideam ann an Dia an t-Athair
Uile-chumhachdach, Cruithear nèimh agus na talmhainn; (English translation of Gaelic: I believe in God the father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth)
I Arise to-day Through a mighty strength,
The invocation of the Trinity, Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness, Of the Creator of Creation

Sanctus
To thee, Eternal Mother, Sing we in praise-
Ruler of the Earth and Sea, Of Air and Flame; The Radiant One.
Preserver! Destroyer! Giver of life! We ever praise thy name, Omnipotent!

Benedictus
Come and come is seaweed, Come and come is red sea-ware,
Come is yellow weed, come is tangle, Come is food which the waves enwraps.
(“come” here is a term of praise)