Mary, Mother of Good Counsel

This is a hymn about Mary the bearer of Good News, under her title Mother of Good Counsel. It was created for the Catholic Women’s League to be used at their meetings and for liturgical celebrations - and also has some popularity in Australia

The words were written by Canadian Roman Catholic priest, liturgist and hymn-book editor Murray John Kroetsch (1952-), while he was serving as chairperson for the production of the Catholic Book of Worship III. Consequently copyright is owned the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

With meter 87.87 D, tunes it has been set to include:

RAQUEL composed in 1985 by Mexican-born American-educated organist, conductor and composer Skinner Chávez-Melo (1944-1992)
HYFRYDOL by Roland Huw Prichard (1811-1887)
BEACH SPRING - from The Sacred Harp shape-note hymnal published in 1844, attributed to editor Benjamin Franklin White (1800 - 1879).

Hymn-books where it has been published in include:

Catholic Book of Worship III, published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ottawa, Canada, 1994 (set to RAQUEL)
Australian Catholic Worship Book II, Morningstar Publishing, Melbourne 2016 (set to to HYFRYDOL)

Image adapt. from Our Lady of Good Counsel

original fresco from the church at Genazzano c. 1356.Wikipedia. CC0.

Downloads

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No downloadable versions have been found, of either performances or the sheet music. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Examples

Singer with piano, tune BEACH SPRING

Instrumental - organ. Tune RAQUEL

Instrumental - midi keyboard with (saxaphone?) lead voice - sheet music on-screen, tune HY...

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Mary, mother of Good Counsel,
you found favor in God's sight.
Overshadowed by the Spirit,
you brought forth the world's true light.
Filled with faith and holy wisdom,
you were worthy of God's choice.
May we too possess these virtues
so that we may hear God's voice.

2 All God's people give you honor,
graceful bearer of Good News.
Be for us a constant model,
holy one whom God did choose.
May we sing God's saving power;
may we tend to human need.
May God's word dwell deep within us,
counsel for each holy deed.

3 Glory to the God who made us,
who is author of all life;
Glory to the Word Incarnate,
who redeemed us from all strife;
Glory to the Holy Spirit,
who in water gives rebirth;
For the gift of Blessed Mary
to the pilgrim Church on earth.