Tracks:
1. Mary's Alleluia*
2. Morning Song*
3. Simple Gifts*
4. All That I have Ever Desired*
5. Song of the Disciple*
6. Prayer of the Congregation*
7. The Queen's Song*
8. In the Footsteps of Mary*
9. Mission Song*
10. The More I Follow* 1
1. Living Water*
12. Psalm of the Beloved*
13. I Want to Feel Little*
14. Almighty God*
15. Spirit of Charity*
16. Blessing Song*
17. Be Always Little+
18. Visitation Song+
19. Magnificat+
20. Ave Maria* (Anima Schola)

19 Selections
Total time 66:44


All songs c 1999
*Kathleen Deignan, CND
and +Mary Anne Foley, CND

“Mary went as quickly as she could into the hill country; entered Zachariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.” (Luke 1:39 – 40)

Visitation is a joyful mystery that celebrates the encounter of two women. At the heart of Visitation is a song, the Magnificat. In it, Mary sings her fullness of life as blessing and prophecy for all generations who hear her song.

A stone carving depicting two women greeting one another stands in St. Jean church in the small city of Troyes, France. That image of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth marked profoundly the spirit of a woman who grew up just around the corner from that church over three hundred years ago.

Breaking the conventions of her time, Marguerite Bourgeoys dared to live a life of Visitation. To bring the liberating message of the gospel to the new world, she crossed the ocean several times seeking companions who were fired by the same desire. For courage and inspiration, she reached back to that story depicted in stone and urged her sisters to make Mary’s way of outgoing love the pattern of their lives.

Thus did the story of the Visitation form the community which gathered around her in the little fort town of Ville-Marie in 1657 and later the thousands of sisters and associates who have followed them in the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal. For over three hundred years, the members of the Congregation have encircled the world with their Visitations. In Canada, the United States, Japan, Central and South America, Africa and France, we learn in every encounter how to live the simple, joyful spirit of Mary’s Visitation, and how to sing her song of praise, the Magnificat.

In this three hundredth anniversary of Marguerite Bourgeoys’ death and birth into new life, it is our joy to share with you some contemporary songs which embody the Visitations spirit. Many of the texts are adapted from the writings of Marguerite and from Scripture; in others can be found the words of kindred spirits like the American Shakers and the poets of the Celtic Isles.

The making of this music was itself a special experience of Visitation. We hope that it will be an invitation to you to share in that experience with us.