Suffering With Joy

St. Ephrem, Harp of the Holy Ghost

June 18, 2010

I was born in the way of Truth:  Though my childhood was unaware of the greatness of the benefit, I knew it when trial came.

Today is the feast of St. Ephrem, the Prophet of the Syrians, Harp of the Holy Ghost, Father of Hymnody, Mary’s Own Singer, and other grand titles including Doctor of the Church. He lived from around 306-373 and we are very fortunate to still have large remnants of his writings.

You might think that anything he wrote so long ago  be would be old-fashioned or irrelevant to today’s world, but like all the Doctors of the Church, St. Ephrem’s writings get down to the simplicity and truth of life as found in sacred Scripture. Here is part of a poem he wrote:

There lie those who improved their complexions,

And artfully disguised their faces;

There lie those who painted their eyelids,

And the worm corrodes their eyes…

There lie those who were enemies,

And their bones are mingled together.

The scroll St. Ephrem holds in the icon above says: “Take thou refuge in God, who passes not away nor is changed.” He wrote about the Holy Eucharist, Penance, the primacy of Peter, about the Blessed Virgin and the sufferings of Christ.

St. Ephrem is known as “The Deacon of Edessa” and is the only male Doctor of the Church who was not ordained a priest or bishop. He lived for some time as a hermit and wrote many poems illustrating the doctrines of Christianity. This beautiful work from the Nativity series gives words to Mary:

The babe that I carry carries me, saith Mary, and He has lowered His wings, and taken and placed me between His pinions, and mounted into the air; and a promise has been given me that height and depth shall be my Son’s… [O Lord Jesus,] In her virginity Eve put on the leaves of shame: Thy Mother put on in her virginity the Garment of Glory that suffices for all.  She gave the little vest of the body to Him that covers all.

Blessed is she in whose heart and mind Thou wast!  A King’s palace she was by Thee, O Son of the King, and a Holy of Holies by Thee, O High Priest!

St. Ephrem organized choirs of women and taught them verses to replace the heretical hymns of Bardesanes, a Syrian writer of the early 3rd century who had written 150 of them, while keeping the music.  Today many of the hymns of St. Ephrem are part of the Syrian liturgy.

Pope Benedict XV proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church on October 5, 1920.

Below is a YouTube recording of John Tavener’s Ikon of the Nativity taken from St. Ephrem’s Nativity hymns.  Tavener is a convert to the Orthodox Church and has written a great deal of music for its liturgy that I think is utterly heavenly. You can also find a recording of a Maronite choir singing St. Ephrem’s Hymn of Light. Unfortunately, embedding is impossible.  Just type in “Hymns of St. Ephrem” and it will come up.

Given the deplorable and sometimes heretical hymns foisted upon Catholics since the 1960s, perhaps it would be wise to call on the patronage of St. Ephrem in the restoration of the sacred liturgy.

Tags: Catholic Church, music

9 Comments to St. Ephrem, Harp of the Holy Ghost

1. 

   St. Ephrem’s words about Mary are beautiful beyond belief. I’ll have to google him and see what other writings are available online. Thanks Barb! The title “Harp of the Holy Ghost” really struck me also. I have always been fascinated with titles for some reason and this one is particularly lovely!
Mary Nicewarner on June 18th, 2010
2. 

   We are truly blessed in the Catholic Church to have such holy people who have left us a legacy of inspiring works. You can find more about St. Ephrem at New Advent http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/ in the Fathers of the Church section.
barb on June 19th, 2010
3. 

   That is transcendent. Eastern sacred music has such a different sensibility, even in this case where there is also a modern mind behind the music.
kkollwitz on June 19th, 2010
4. 

   Yes. Arvo Part also composes in an etherial fashion for the Orthodox liturgy. I can listen to Tavener and Part for hours and think I am surrounded by angels. Although I am thoroughly Western in my heritage, I am deeply attracted to Eastern music, art, and writing. I have a number of recordings of Russian Orthodox liturgy, Corsican chant, and Greek chant from the 1200s. Our spiritual life can be so enriched and we can appreciate God’s desire for unity in His family when we learn of other heritages which also glorify God.
barb on June 20th, 2010
5. 

   Thanks for sharing about this saint. I’d never heard of him before. And the music is absolutely divine! Too bad our churches today have largely forsaken this, which is superior not only esthetically but spiritually, for contemporary stuff that is often shallow and juvenile.

   Evan
Evan on June 20th, 2010
6. 

   Beautiful piece! Thank you for sharing. My 17 year old daughter sings in a good youth choir, and we love chorale music. I agree with Mary, what beautiful titles to have – “Harp of the Holy Ghost, Father of Hymnody, Mary’s Own Singer.”

   I’m with you, too, re. contemporary church music — I wish they would feature more traditional hymns and choral works at Mass. As you mentioned, it’s something worth praying for through St. Ephrem’s intercession. Thanks for sharing!
Sweetums5 on June 20th, 2010
7. 

   My favorite St. Ephrem prayer used often during Lent:

   The Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian
   O Lord and Master of my life, keep from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust of power and idle chatter. [kneel/prostration]

   Instead, grant to me, Your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humble-mindedness, patience, and love. [kneel/prostration]

   O Lord and King, grant me the grace to be aware of my sins and not to judge my brother; for You are blessed now and ever and forever. Amen. [kneel/prostration]
Diane on June 22nd, 2010
8. 

   This is a great prayer and so oriental. I love the Eastern rite prayers and will use it for myself. Thank you so much.
barb on June 22nd, 2010
9. 

   Barb,
   Thank you for the St. Ephrem link!
Mary Nicewarner on June 23rd, 2010