Requiem Eucharist for the Rev. Charles Alvin Boland

Today a special Requiem Eucharist was held for the Rev. Charles Alvin Boland at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. The church was still decorated from last night's wedding of Craigen Robinson and Phillip Albergotti which added a nice touch to the service.
Hidden amongst the preludes to Saturday's wedding service, former Episcopal Church of Our Saviour organist Dr. Shirley Herlong Fishburne, included the organ score to "In Paradisum" by Gabriel Fauré (along with several other pieces). While it was not printed in the program for the wedding, I noted and appreciated the addition of this piece from Fauré's "Requiem," and thought that perhaps it was included for Al. Some might consider it unusual to select something from a requiem for a wedding, but "sans" words, the melody is quite beautiful and stands on its own as something the modern ear should appreciate.

Enjoy the words and music together,



"In Paradisum"

In paradisum deducant te angeli,
in tuo adventu
suscipiant te martyres,
et perducant te
in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere
aeternam habeas requiem.



(May the angels lead you into paradise,
may the martyrs receive you
in your coming,
and may they guide you
into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the chorus of angels receive you
and with Lazarus once poor
may you have eternal rest.
tr. Arnold vander Nat © 1999)