sillydoll
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2002 CF: 2004 from Paris: 2006 VF: 2007 CF: 2009 Aragones, Ingles, Finisterre: 2011 X 2 on CF: 2013 'Caracoles': 2014 CF and Ingles 'Caracoles":2015 Logrono-Burgos (Hospitalero San Anton): 2016 La Douay to Aosta/San Gimignano to Rome:
A few pilgrims songs have come down to us from different nations, including this one by George Henry Borrow in his Bible in Spain, published in 1863.
The following lines, said to be sung by congregations in front of the altar on bended knee on the eve of St James' Feast Day.
Thou shield of that faith which in Spain we revere,
Thou scourge of each foeman who dares to draw near ;
Whom the Son of that God who the elements tames,
Call'd child of the thunder, immortal Saint James !
From the blessed asylum of glory intense,
Upon us thy sovereign influence dispense ;
And list to the praises our gratitude aims
To offer up worthily, mighty Saint James !
To thee fervent thanks Spain shall ever outpour ;
In thy name though she glory, she glories yet more
In thy thrice hallow'd corse, which the sanctuary claims
Of high Compostella, O blessed Saint James !
When heathen impiety, loathsome and dread,
With a chaos of darkness our Spain overspread,
Thou wast the first light which dispell'd with its flames
The hell-born obscurity, glorious Saint James !
And when terrible wars had nigh wasted our force,
All bright 'midst the battle we saw thee on horse,
Fierce scattering the hosts, whom their fury proclaims
To be warriors of Islam, victorious Saint James !
Beneath thy direction, stretch'd prone at thy feet,
With hearts low and humble, this day we entreat
Thou wilt strengthen the hope which enlivens our frames,
The hope of thy favour and presence, Saint James.
Then praise to the Son and the Father above,
And to that Holy Spirit which springs from their love ;
To that bright emanation whose vividness shames
The sun's burst of splendour, and praise to Saint James.
The following lines, said to be sung by congregations in front of the altar on bended knee on the eve of St James' Feast Day.
Thou shield of that faith which in Spain we revere,
Thou scourge of each foeman who dares to draw near ;
Whom the Son of that God who the elements tames,
Call'd child of the thunder, immortal Saint James !
From the blessed asylum of glory intense,
Upon us thy sovereign influence dispense ;
And list to the praises our gratitude aims
To offer up worthily, mighty Saint James !
To thee fervent thanks Spain shall ever outpour ;
In thy name though she glory, she glories yet more
In thy thrice hallow'd corse, which the sanctuary claims
Of high Compostella, O blessed Saint James !
When heathen impiety, loathsome and dread,
With a chaos of darkness our Spain overspread,
Thou wast the first light which dispell'd with its flames
The hell-born obscurity, glorious Saint James !
And when terrible wars had nigh wasted our force,
All bright 'midst the battle we saw thee on horse,
Fierce scattering the hosts, whom their fury proclaims
To be warriors of Islam, victorious Saint James !
Beneath thy direction, stretch'd prone at thy feet,
With hearts low and humble, this day we entreat
Thou wilt strengthen the hope which enlivens our frames,
The hope of thy favour and presence, Saint James.
Then praise to the Son and the Father above,
And to that Holy Spirit which springs from their love ;
To that bright emanation whose vividness shames
The sun's burst of splendour, and praise to Saint James.
