Page 41 - O Mahony Journal 2025

and pilgrims. Fursa’s office is a French composition and survives in a
unique manuscript from c. 1300, which also contains copies of his Life
and Miracles.

The office begins with the antiphon, ‘Nobilitate vigens Furseus’: (Fig. 2)

‘Shining out with excellence among the stars, Fursa, bishop and abbot,
O forever crowned, he is mighty in power. Forever and ever. Amen.’

And another antiphon, for Lauds, is a prayer in praise and supplication,
which has been recorded on video (Fig. 3 Video link)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17EP56h2y506ZqVw3FIf0B6U04KhTsfot/view?usp=drive_link

‘O Fursa gentle shepherd, O shining light, who, in the world of the
thunderer, has fulfilled all the prophecies; because of this, above the
stars now you shine in all glory, joined to those who sit in the heavenly
seats, and praise the Lord the Saviour with the loudest voice, by your
prayer may he save us for ever.’

I shall conclude with a music example from opening stanza of the
Vespers Hymn for St Brigit (Fig. 4)
Fig. 2 Office of St Fursa, Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, MS 944.

Adest dies leticie [CD item 30]
Adest dies leticie
The day of rejoicing is here, when the holy
virgin Brigit, from the dark vale of misery,
crosses over into the realm of light. 1V-H

1-d-c-g---hk--kj---hg--h--gf--e----7---f-fe---d---dh---h--gh---g--fe--e---7
From earliest childhood she strove to serve
God by her gift of chastity, mightily she 1. A - dest di - es le - ti - ci - e quo sanc - ta vir - go Bri - gi - da
found favour with her heavenly spouse. 1-dh-j--h--hg--hk-kj--hg--h--gf--gh--7--hg--h---gf---g--d---e-fg--fe--e---4
de te - ne - bris mi - se - ri - e tran - sit ad re - gna lu - ci - da
In token of her modesty the touch of the
virgin’s hand made the altar’s dry wood
grow suddenly green again. Fig. 4 Vespers hymn for St Brigit, transcribed and edited by Ann Buckley

She is the laurel of Ireland whose greenness never faded,
full of merciful compassion, she never failed any petitioner.

Throughout the endless ages to God alone be glory,
that through the prayers of such a virgin He may lead us up to heaven. Amen.

For more information about the Amra Project, please contact
Dr. Ann O’Mahony Buckley at ann.i.buckley@gmail.com

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