This anthem was commissioned by James O'Connor for the Order of St John of Jerusalem, and first performed in Llandaff Cathedral by the St John Ambulance Volunteer Choir in June 2024.
It is a setting for four-part choir and organ of a new Latin text celebrating the work of the St John Ambulance. The refrain is based on the motto of the organisation, Pro fide, Pro utilitate hominum.
The words are by Luke Houghton, and the music by Hugh Houghton.
The score is available for download as a PDF (196KB).
Two sound files are available: a MIDI version of the score (MP3, 4.3MB) and a recording of the first performance (M4A, 2.5MB)
Mortis viae infinitae,
Sed paucae servandae vitae:
Sanando imitemur Dominum,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum.
Curare semper nostra cura;
Sancta est nobis creatura.
Pro bono laboramus omnium,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum.
Iuventus nostra educatur
Ut ea quoque medeatur,
Et sic in vicem det auxilium,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum!
Omnem veneremur gentem,
Aequam semper servemus mentem;
Et sic vitemus omne noxium,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum.
Per ardua laeti transeamus,
Veritate gaudeamus;
Corda gerentes more innocentium,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum.
Equites Solymitani,
Labores nostri non sunt vani;
Ergo laudemus sempiternum Dominum,
Pro Fide, pro utilitate hominum!
Countless ways there are of death,
But very few of saving breath:
In healing let us Christ’s disciples be,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
Caring for others is our care;
Creation holy we declare.
For universal good we labour faithfully,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
To youth we give instruction due,
That they may practise healing too,
And in their turn may others’ helpers be,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
Every race let us respect,
To calmness keep our minds subject;
And so from every evil be kept free,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
Through setbacks let us journey with a smile,
And in the truth take pleasure without guile;
Bearing our hearts as faultless as may be,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
O knights of Salem’s holy name,
Know that our toils are not in vain;
So praise the Lord through all eternity,
For the Faith and in the service of humanity!
Luke Houghton (2023)