Mary Blessed Grieving Mother

This is a  hymn about Mary./  

The words were written by English Anglican-raised, United Reformed church minister, community health worker and hymn writer Michael Forster (1946-2023).

With meter 8.7.8.7.7.7, tunes it is set to include:

• BLACK MADONNA by Alan Ridout (1934-1996) - the original tune
• IRBY (usually used for Once in Royal David's City).

Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

• Anglican Hymns Old and New
• Sing of a World Made New - GIA and Hope Publications, 2014

Downloads

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No downloadable versions have been found, of either performances or the sheet music. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Examples

Instrumental - piano - tune BLACK MADONNA

Instrumental - organ - tune IRBY:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1 Mary, blessed grieving mother ...

2 Where the crosses of the nations ...

3 Standing with the suffering Saviour ...

4 Holy mother, watching, waiting,
... lifted up at Calvary!

See also

• Hymns for Mother's Day
• Hymns about Mary

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Mary, blessed grieving mother,
waiting by the cross of shame,
through your patient, prayerful vigil,
kindle hope's eternal flame;
crying in the pains of earth,
singing of redemption's birth.

Where the crosses of the nations
darken still the noonday skies,
see the sad madonna weeping
through a million mothers' eyes.
Holy Mary, full of grace,
all our tears with yours embrace.

Standing with the suffering Saviour,
still oppressed by hate and fear,
where the gentle still are murdered
and protesters disappear:
mother of the crucified,
call his people to your side!

Holy mother, watching, waiting,
for the saving of the earth;
in the loneliness of dying,
speak of hope and human worth,
there for all the world to see,
lifted up at Calvary!