This is John de Luca’s arrangement of the Lourdes Hymn, so you can’t get more Catholic than that – no chance of this being in the Presbyterian hymn book I grew up with! I have looked at it before, here, and learned that Gio had discovered twenty verses and had been sent 140 in French! Here, there are nine verses but they are different again to the verses that I found last time and all attributed to William Brian Foley.
The tune is LOURDES, noted here to be a “traditional Pyrenean melody”.
My new backing is based in his arrangement and these are the verses in the NLPHB.
1 Immaculate Mary, we praise God in you:
His power and his mercy, his grace given to you.
Refrain
Ave, Ave Ave Maria. x2
2 Predestined for Christ be eternal decree,
God willed you both virgin and mother to be.
Refrain
3 To you, by an angel, the Father made known
The grace of his Spirit, the gift of his Son
Refrain
4 Most blest of all women, you heard and believed,
Most blest in the fruit of your womb then conceived.
Refrain
5 The angels rejoiced when you brought forth God’s Son;
Your joy is the joy of all ages to come.
Refrain
6 Your child is the Saviour, all hope lies in him:
He gives us new life and redeems us from sin.
Refrain
7 With sorrow you watched while your Son died for men:
With joy at his rising, you saw him again.
Refrain
8 In glory forever now close to your son,
All ages will praise you for all God had done.
Refrain
9 Through you to your Son lead us, Mary, we pray;
Through Christ to the Father is our only way.
Looking for more verses from various sources:
Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing,
You reign now in heaven with Jesus our kingMost blessed of women to whom was revealed,
The plan of salvation for ages concealedO perfect disciple, you cherished God’s word;
Proclaimed by your virtue, the good news you heardO mother of mercy, the cross of your Son
Has brought us to new life: in him we are one.So now with the saints and the angels above
We join you in praising our God who is love.In heaven the blessed your glory proclaim;
On earth we your children invoke your fair name.We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth,
And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.Immaculate, Mary! Our hearts are on fire.
That title so wondrous fills all our desire!We pray for God’s glory, may His Kingdom come.
We pray for His Vicar, our Father, and Rome.We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth.
And bless, sweetest Lady, the land of our birth.We pray for God’s glory, may His kingdom come;
We pray for His Vicar, our Father in Rome.We pray for all sinners, and souls that now stray
From Jesus and Mary in heresy’s way.For poor, sick, afflicted, thy mercy we crave;
And comfort the dying, thou light of the grave!There is no need, Mary, nor ever hath been,
Which thou canst not succor Immaculate Queen.In grief and temptation, in joy, or in pain,
We’ll seek thee, our Mother, nor seek thee in vain.O bless us, dear Lady, with blessings from heaven,
And to our petitions let answer be given.In death’s solemn moment, our Mother, be nigh;
As children of Mary O teach us to die!And crown thy sweet mercy with this special grace,
To behold soon in heaven God’s ravishing Face.Now to God be all glory and worship for aye,
And to God’s Virgin Mother, an endless Ave.In glory for ever now close to your Son,
All ages will praise you for all God has done.In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim,
On earth we your children invoke your sweet name.We pray you O mother may God’s will be done,
We pray for His glory may His kingdom come.Immaculate Mother we come at your call.
And low at thy altar before thee we fall.O blest Virgin Mary, to Lourdes on this day,
Come Christians returning, as to you they pray.The base of the rock glows with light warm and mild;
The Lady approaches and beckons the child.“Please come with your friends, fifteen times visit here;
Then open your hearts that my voice you may hear.”Three times spoke Our Lady with much urgency:
To all she says, “Penance.” O Christian, take heed!Come, drink from this fountain of pure water blest;
In holy ablutions go, wash, be refreshed.“I wish, at the foot of these mountains, there be
A crowd in procession, belovèd by me.”“I ask that a chapel be built in this place,
Reminding all people to seek the Lord’s face.”For Mary has visited us eighteen times;
The child who has seen her has faith most sublime.The grotto grants peace when one comes here to pray;
And Mary spreads graces to all here this day.We witness the fountain that never runs dry;
And crowds without ceasing are e’er passing by.Teach us to obey all the grace we receive;
May we be converted and come to believe.May God grant the sinner forgiveness of sin;
May grace of the Savior enlighten all men.O dear Blessèd Mother, at our final hour
Please pray for us sinners to Christ, Our Saviour.
Sounds great in Spanish:
