Vox Hiberniae & A Celtic Journey with St. Francis of Assisi.

The wonderful Vox Hiberniae draw on a variety of composers and genres, interspersed with reflections from/about St. Francis, to reflect musically on the life of St. Francis of Assisi from the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Dublin, where the community of Adam and Eve’s Friary continue in the tradition of St. Francis. Rolf Løvland’s compositions expound the virtues of hope, which the prayer of St. Francis exhorts us to sow in place of despair, and simplicity, as exemplified in St. Francis’ way of life.

Seacht Suáilce na Maighdine is a traditional Irish piece celebrating seven joys in the life of the Virgin Mary, a tradition also observed in the “Franciscan Crown” devotion. The praises found in St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun are echoed in Ronan McDonagh’s setting of psalm 150 and in the traditional Irish piece Céad Glóire which offers one hundred glories to God the Father.

The chant antiphon from St Francis’ feast day recalls how St Francis “… taught [us] to praise; he was always praising; Praise, I say, of the Savior; He invites birds, beasts, and other creatures to praise the Creator”.

A beautiful piece from fine Celtic musicians.