We have another wonderful choral performance from Les Pauvres de Saint-François (The Poor of Saint Francis). The Quebec-based Franciscan order performed this concert on June 10, 2017 in Saint-Pierre-aux-liens church, Caraquet, New Brunswick.
This small order produces quite a large polished sound that can only come from the devotion of one’s life to the craft. The Poor of Saint Francis have always placed a strong emphasis on music. This practice was began by their founder, Brother Jaques Roy, who was a talented musician and conductor.
Brother Jaques saw a limitless potential to touch hearts with the sung word of God and strove to sing praise worthy of God’s name. He arranged the Divine Office musically.
The Misericordias Domini (Mercies of the Lord) is an offertory setting, which you would usually hear in Mass during the preparation of the gifts. However, it is also used as an introit, or entrance chant, in the Easter season.
The Latin text Misericórdias Dómini in aetérnum cantábo translates to “The mercies of the Lord, I shall sing forever.” In many settings this line is repeated throughout as an antiphon with verses from Psalm 89, but here the Latin antiphon is interspersed with verses in French from the poetry of St. Therese of Lisieux.
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And today we celebrate...