This song about St Francis of Assisi was written by Australia Roman Catholic (Franciscan
Missionary of Mary) religious sister, Irene O'Connor FMM (ref). It was originally released under the name Myriam Frances.
It was written in the 1960s while she was working as a teacher in Singapore. It was included on Strum to the Lord in 1967 (ref) and an album, Sing a Song to Lord, which was first released there in 1968, and then re-recorded and re-released in Phillips in Australia in 1973 and in the USA in 1976.
Il Poverello is the nickname associated with St Francis of Assisi. Founder of the Franciscan Order
The catalogue of the National Library of Australia says that a 27-page song book was produced in the 1970s, which presumably included this and all other tracks from Sing a Song to the Lord. No current sources of this have been found.
Examples
No recordings have been located. If you know where to find one, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of this page.Lyrics
The words below were found in similar sources to other Irene O'Connor songs. They match her poetic style and approach But because I have not located an on-line version of Irene O'Connor's song, I have not able to confirm if the words lyrics below are from it, or from another song with a similar title.
If you have access to an original recording, please listen to it and compare the word below, and leave a message in the Comments box at the bottom of the page.
Chorus:
Little Poverello, help us little Poverello, How to live as you did loving
God and all men too
You were every singing happiness to all men bringing
Help us humble Francis,
help us serve the Lord like you.
1. Mid shining sun or pouring rain
1. Mid shining sun or pouring rain
you had but one refrain;
For in your heart and on
your lips
was ever Jesus name.
2. Reveal to us the secret
2. Reveal to us the secret
of your "Lady Poverty".
For only when we're poor in heart
we have true liberty.
3. The world is seeking joy in vain,
3. The world is seeking joy in vain,
it longs for peace of mind.
If men would love
the Lord like you,
true happiness they'd find.
Image from Wikimedia |
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