O Mary of Graces is a traditionally Catholic Marian hymn based on an ancient Irish prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Two versions of the hymn exist based on differing translations made of the original prayer by Priest Douglas Hyde and J. Rafferty, with the Hyde version being more popular.
The hymn originates from an ancient Irish prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus.[1][2] It was later translated into English and turned into a hymn by the Priest Douglas Hyde (1860–1949), and another man named J. Rafferty.[3] The differing translations of the prayer became two versions of the hymn, which despite a difference in translation and melody patterns, hold very similar rhythms.[3]
Below, the two versions of the hymn are displayed. Both versions are formatted the same way the Hyde version was displayed in the May 1914 newspaper segment from The Catholic Columbian as to aid in comparison.[1]
O Mary of Graces And Mother of God May I tread in the paths That the righteous have trod.
And mayest thou save me From evil's control, And mayest thou save me In body and soul.
And mayest thou save me By land and by sea, And mayest thou save me From tortures to be.
May the guard of the angels Above me abide, May God be before me And God at my side.
The Hyde version of the hymn is sometimes performed with variations,[a] including a variation with an additional three verses added onto the end not present in the Rafferty version.[3]
Modern usage
In modern history, the hymn is used traditionally in Catholic settings. The Hyde version of the hymn specifically, which is more commonplace than its counterpart, has been used in at least three hymnals,[6][7] and was the version used in a cover of the hymn by the Catholic religious sisters congregation, the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Our Savior, for their likewise-named 1998 album "Mary of Graces".[8][9]
The hymn has been performed by choirs, duets, and orchestras, which are sometimes accompanied instruments, including: guitars, harps, organs, synthesizers,[3]oboes,[19] and/or violins.[21] The hymn is uncommonly performed using the traditional Gaelic language, but sung in the same rhythm as one of the two modern versions.[3]
References
Notes
↑ A less-common version of the hymn sometimes referred to as the 'Laoghaire version'[4] draws its origins from the Hyde version,[5] only differing slightly in the translation of some words.
↑ William Ferris Chorale (29 September 2014). O Mary of Graces (YouTube). The Orchard Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
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