My Compositions

Scriptural References

Mary Refrain: Mark 16: 1-2, Verse 1: Matthew 28:9-10, Verse 2: Luke: 24:30-34, Verse 3: Luke 24:36; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15

Background

Our pastor later asked us to identify our own patron saint. I struggled. I went to my Lives of the Saints little blue book and read. Mary Magdalene kept returning to my thoughts. She was persistent. Needless to say, I chose her. This song comes from me thinking about her, praying to her for intercessions. She was the first to see He was alive. She believed told others to believe. Now, we must open the door for others to see and believe. 

You can hear my original and updated solo versions on YouTube.

When I heard of the loss of my friends’ son and daughter-in-law in a tragic event, I was compelled to do something. The only thing I felt like I could do was to write music for their eventual funerals. Often the Pie Jesu text is set in somber tones. However, I wanted to create something that felt hopeful, reflecting what we believe: life does not end here. 

Verse 1 represents our baptism. We are claimed by God and we cannot be “unclaimed.” Verse 2 represents our lives. We go through struggles, ups and downs, and along the way, Jesus is standing beside us telling us he’s there and that we should not be afraid. Verse 3 represents our final day, an important day like all others. In the scripture, according to my pastors over time, being on a mountain represents that something very important is happening. In this text setting then, we are ending our earthly journey meeting the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit together and are again reminded that we were claimed from the start. 

You can hear a couple of my solo versions on YouTube.