Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Tarik O'Regan
Haec deum celi (Thou the true Virgin Mother of the Highest) from Sequence for St Wulfstan (2005)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Commissioned by Matthew Owens and the Choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh
Programme Note
Latin text sourced from MS 391, p. 254:
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College
(the Portiforium of St Wulfstan)
Text: Hrabanus Maurus (?) (d. 856 A.D.)
Translation: T. A. Lacey (1893 - 1929)
For CANDLEMAS
A Note on St Wulfstan (1008 – 1095)
St Wulfstan was Bishop of Worcester from 1062-95. He was born around 1008 during the reign of Æþelræd II (978-1016) and died at the age of eighty-seven in 1095 during the reign of William Rufus (1087-1100). Despite being confessor to King Harold he remained a bishop under the first two Norman kings and in fact was the only bishop to be kept in his post by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066 – 1087).
By all accounts (most notably in the monk Colman’s recorded life of St Wulfstan, preserved today only in a twelfth century Latin translation, Vita Wilfstani, by William of Malmesbury) Wulfstan was a most caring and hard-working Bishop. Wulfstan insisted on strict observance of the Benedictine Rule. Not only did he continue with his monastic duties and his exemplary adherence to the monastic rule, but he also increased his pastoral activities and never turned away petitioner. Unlike some priests, he baptised children of the poor without charge, with the result that it became acknowledged that children were only properly baptised if Wulfstan had officiated. Indeed Wulfstan's holiness became an attraction in itself.
Wulfstan's reputation for humility and simplicity, his adherence to the Benedictine Rule, his exemplary personal conduct, his ability to heal the sick and his reputation of performing miracles made it almost inevitable that he would become a saint. However, it was not until 21 April 1203 that Wulfstan was canonised. His Feast Day is January 19th.
Tarik O’Regan
June, 2003
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College
(the Portiforium of St Wulfstan)
Text: Hrabanus Maurus (?) (d. 856 A.D.)
Translation: T. A. Lacey (1893 - 1929)
For CANDLEMAS
A Note on St Wulfstan (1008 – 1095)
St Wulfstan was Bishop of Worcester from 1062-95. He was born around 1008 during the reign of Æþelræd II (978-1016) and died at the age of eighty-seven in 1095 during the reign of William Rufus (1087-1100). Despite being confessor to King Harold he remained a bishop under the first two Norman kings and in fact was the only bishop to be kept in his post by William the Conqueror (reigned 1066 – 1087).
By all accounts (most notably in the monk Colman’s recorded life of St Wulfstan, preserved today only in a twelfth century Latin translation, Vita Wilfstani, by William of Malmesbury) Wulfstan was a most caring and hard-working Bishop. Wulfstan insisted on strict observance of the Benedictine Rule. Not only did he continue with his monastic duties and his exemplary adherence to the monastic rule, but he also increased his pastoral activities and never turned away petitioner. Unlike some priests, he baptised children of the poor without charge, with the result that it became acknowledged that children were only properly baptised if Wulfstan had officiated. Indeed Wulfstan's holiness became an attraction in itself.
Wulfstan's reputation for humility and simplicity, his adherence to the Benedictine Rule, his exemplary personal conduct, his ability to heal the sick and his reputation of performing miracles made it almost inevitable that he would become a saint. However, it was not until 21 April 1203 that Wulfstan was canonised. His Feast Day is January 19th.
Tarik O’Regan
June, 2003