On November 2, the St. Vincent Ferrer Chorale sang its annual All Souls Day Concert here in the parish.  The centerpiece of the program was Fauré's Requiem, around which were performed other brief works by various composers.  The music was beautiful, as always, and one piece in particular caught my attention. 

Toward the end of the program, the Chorale sang Faure's "En Prière," a chanson composed by the famous French organist employing a short poetic text by Stephan Bordèse.  While listening to the piece, the beauty of the words struck me every bit as much as the music.  Bordèse's poem appeared to me as a perfect prayer for preachers.

Si la voix d'un enfant peut monter jus'qua vous,  
O mon Père, 
Ecoutez de Jesus, devant vous à genoux, 
La Prière! 
Si vous mavez choisi pour enseigner vos lois 
Sur la terre, 
Je saurai Vous servir auguste Roi de rois, 
Ô Lumière! 
Sur mes lèvres, Seigneur, mettez la vérité 
Salutaire, 
Pour que celui qui doute, avec humilité 
Vous revère! 
Ne m'abandonez pas, donnezmoi la douceur 
Necessaire, 
Pour apaiser les maux, soulager la douleur, 
La misère! 
Révèlez Vous a moi,   
Seigneur en qui je crois 
Et j'espère: 
Pour vous je veux souffrir et mourir sur la croix,  
Au calvaire! 

If the voice of a child could rise up to you,
O my Father,
Listen to Jesus, kneeling before you,
In prayer!
If you have chosen me for teaching your laws
On the earth,
I will be able to serve you, august King of Kings,
O Light!
On my lips, Lord, place the truth
Of salvation,
So that he who doubts, with humility
May revere you!
Do not abandon me, but give me the gentleness
Necessary,
To soothe the pains, to comfort the sadness,
The misery!
Reveal yourself to me,
Lord in whom I trust
And hope:
For you I will suffer and die on the cross
Of calvary!