Tag: Marty Haugen

Christmas, Day 1: He Came Down

Victoria Emily JonesLeave a comment

LOOK: The Birth of Jesus by Engelbert Mveng

Mveng, Engelbert_The Birth of Jesus
Fr. Engelbert Mveng, SJ (Cameroonian, 1930–1995), The Birth of Jesus, 1990. Central scene of mural at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church, Chicago. All photos courtesy of the church.

When Holy Angels Catholic Church on the south side of Chicago was rebuilt following a 1986 fire, the historic church commissioned the Cameroonian Jesuit priest, artist, and historian Engelbert Mveng (1930–1995) to paint a mural for behind the altar. He chose to represent moments of angelic intervention in biblical history. (See a close-up of the full mural here.)

The mural’s focal point is a Nativity scene, set in a hilly African landscape that’s pulsing with joy. The infant Jesus lies asleep on a grassy bed, adored by his parents and flanked by candles, pipers, and some curious animal onlookers. Caught up in the sky’s vibrant swirls are forty-nine disembodied angel heads, singing their Gloria.

In July 2021, Holy Angels merged with the faith communities of Corpus Christi, St. Ambrose, St. Anselm of Canterbury, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary in the Bronzeville/Kenwood area of Chicago to become Our Lady of Africa Parish, housed at the former Holy Angels church. The altar mural remains installed on the east end, a key visual feature of the worship space.

Mveng mural
Mveng mural

LISTEN: “He Came Down,” traditional Cameroonian carol | Transcribed and arranged by John L. Bell of the Iona Community, 1986 | Arranged and performed by Marty Haugen on Welcome the Child, 1992 [sheet music]

He came down that we may have life
He came down that we may have life
He came down that we may have life
Hallelujah, forevermore!

He came down that we may have peace . . .

He came down that we may have hope . . .

He came down that we may have joy . . .

Advent, Day 27: Awake

Victoria Emily JonesLeave a comment

LOOK: Anima by Meryl McMaster

McMaster, Meryl_Anima
Meryl McMaster (Canadian, 1988–), Anima, from the In-Between Worlds series, 2012. Digital chromogenic print, 36 × 36 in. (91.4 × 91.4 cm). McMaster uses photographic self-portraiture to explore her dual Indigenous (Plains Cree) and European (British and Dutch) heritage.

LISTEN: “Awake! Awake!” by Lo Sy Lo (Samantha Connour), on St Fleming of Advent, 2019 | Words adapted from a hymn by Marty Haugen, 1983

Awake! Awake, and greet new morn
(Turn from despair and groaning, turn from despair and groaning)
Sing out your joy, for he is born
(The child of your great longing, salvation’s light is dawning)

Come as a babe (so weak and poor)
He opens wide (the heavn’ly door)
To bind all hearts (together)
God with us, now and forever!

In darkest night, the coming light
(To all the world despairing, his saving song now sharing)
Like morning light, so clear, so bright
(So warm and gentle, caring; a hopeful song worth sharing)

Then shall the mute (break forth in song)
And weak be raised (above the strong)
And every sword (and weapon)
Shall be broken into plowshares

Rejoice! Rejoice! Take heart despite
(The winter dark and cheerless, the winter dark and cheerless)
The rising sun beams down its light
(Be strong and loving, fearless; be strong and loving, fearless)

Love, be our hope (Love, be our prayer)
Love, be our song (each day to share)
Love, be our strength
Until at last he brings us into glory

Love, be our hope (Love, be our prayer)
Love, be our song (each day to share)
Love, be our hope (Love, be our prayer)
Love, be our song (each day to share)

Love, be our hope (Love, be our prayer)
Love, be our song (each day to share)
Love, be our strength
Until at last he brings us into glory

Sinking (Artful Devotion)

Victoria Emily Jones1 Comment

Graffam, Catherine_Head High, Tears Dry
Catherine Graffam (American, 1993–), Head High, Tears Dry, 2015. Oil on wood, 27.9 × 35.5 cm.

Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

. . .

My prayer is to you, O LORD.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant,
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.

—Psalm 69:1–3, 13–17

[Related post: “From the Mire (Artful Devotion),” on Psalm 40]

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SONG: “Save Me, O God” by Marty Haugen, on Here Among Us: Songs for the Liturgical Year (2015)

This post belongs to the weekly series Artful Devotion. If you can’t view the music player in your email or RSS reader, try opening the post in your browser.

To view all the Revised Common Lectionary scripture readings for Proper 7, cycle A, click here.