"Mystery of Grace and Love" Music and Musings

As we continue to journey with Cousineau’s The Art of Pilgrimage, and as we prepare ourselves for our own pilgrimages this year, I smile when I see the song “Pilgrims’ Hymn” in the list of songs we hear in this month of “Grace and Love”. I have to chuckle reading the lyrics again to find the word “breathe” used in this song while I wait this day for the start of Alexis’ Saturday morning Breathing class. I can imagine Carl Jung taking a long draw on his pipe and nodding his head in approval of this very synchronous moment.

“Pilgrims’ Hymn”, composed in 1997 by Stephen Paulus, with lyrics by Michael Dennis Browne, is a lush acapella choral hymn that will stay with you for days—perhaps for all of your days—as the lyrics turn into a daily prayer. The tempo of this piece recalls to me the voice of Thich Nhat Hanh and his reminder throughout from his book, Living Buddha, Living Christ, to breathe, to love, to be the Buddha or the Christ that dwells within you, to find the Holy in you. While reading the Book of Isaiah this week, I came across a footnote about the word “holy” that brought this all together: holy means to be “set apart” to God.

As you begin your pilgrimage of what must be done this day (there is always laundry to do or something to clean) or your soul’s journey, or when things come to a place when you are removed from being the Christ in you, think of the “Pilgrims’ Hymn”. Say the words, “Unceasing love, O unceasing love” on the in-breath, followed by “Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace” on the out-breath. Do this over and over and see where this takes you. 

May this love, this breath, this grace be with you now and forever, and unto ages and ages. Amen.

Pilgrims’ Hymn

Even before we call on Your name
   To ask You, O God,
When we seek for the words to glorify You,
   You hear our prayer;
Unceasing love, O unceasing love,
   Surpassing all we know.

Glory to the Father,
   And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.

Even with darkness sealing us in,
   We breathe Your name,
And through all the days that follow so fast,
   We trust in You;
Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace,
   Beyond all mortal dream.

Both now and forever,
   And unto ages and ages,
Amen