and I'm thinking back on all those many nights
when my mother sang me to sleep in her arms,
tucked me into my crib, then a bed,
helped me say my prayers,
gave me a kiss and softly said,
Good night, God bless you, I love you!
And when I was old enough to put myself to bed,
I'd go find her, often sitting in her chair, reading or knitting
and I'd give her a quick kiss and say,
'Night, G'bless you, love you!
And now tonight, Lord,
oh, how I'd love to find her one more time
and have the chance to say, quite clearly,
from deep within my heart and prayer,
Good night, Mom, God bless you, I love you!
Or better yet, Lord,
and since in dreams and wishes, anything can be
- that she might come and tuck me in again,
that I might feel her kiss once more upon my brow
and hear her softly say,
Good night, God bless you, I love you!
But memories, dreams and wishes are all I have now
and though for these I'm more than grateful,
still I'll add to them this prayer tonight, Lord:
please seek her out among your chosen
and give her a kiss for me
and one more time let her hear my words,
Good night, Mom, God bless you, I love you!
Amen.
Our song for Night Prayer is Franz Biebl's exquisite Ave Maria, flawlessly performed by Chanticleer. Biebl's composition is my favorite musical setting of this prayer. Composed in 1964, Biebl intersperses chant verses of the Angelus prayer with the familiar text of the Hail Mary. Scroll down for the lyrics in Latin and English.
Angelus Domini, nuntiavit Mariae,
et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Maria dixit, ecce ancilla Domini,
fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Mary said: behold the servant of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesu.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Et verbum caro factum est,
et habitavit in nobis.
And the word became flesh
and dwelled among us.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesu.
Sancta Maria, mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us, sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
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