The tale of an Irish saint who crossed many boundaries in her search for new life in Christ. Inspired by a tale from the Northumbrian Community and written for a friend’s ordination.
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Canaire – Song Lyrics by Lizzie Pridmore
At the bright hearth of the house she loved, the holy woman prayed
She’d crafted walls with thoughtful words and songs of heartfelt praise
There was heaven, there was hardship in the only life she’d known
But a vision came of brighter fire, on an island far from home
It said come – this is your resurrection, my love
Come – new life awaits you here
So she stepped out - into the mystery
Stepped out - over the boundary
Further on, deeper in, further on, deeper in.
Her face set on the path that led away from her front door
Her courage nearly failed her but she prayed then all the more
She walked on, travelled many days ‘til earth met ocean swell
Beyond the waves, the burning fire – the vision still compelled
So she stepped out - into the mystery
Stepped out – over the boundary
Further on, deeper in, further on – into the raging sea!
A first step, with a fearful heart, in cold, forbidding waves
The vision still before her of her resurrection day
Astonished as the water held as land beneath her feet
Another step, another, and she sang as one released!
[Instrumental]
As she drew close to the holy isle, her resurrection near
A good man came to welcome her, but said ‘You can’t stay here’,
‘There is no place for a woman on this island, you must go.
Your sisters on the further shore will welcome you, I know’.
‘Christ redeems women, no less than men’, she said.
‘Heaven is for women, no less than men’, she said.
‘Will you give me rest, and the blessed sacrament,
For this will be my resurrection’, she said.
He replied ‘Come ashore’.
So she stepped out – into the mystery
Stepped out – over the boundary
Further on, deeper in, further on – her resurrection song.
Lizzie Pridmore, 2019
Sources
‘Canaire’, Northumbria Community, Celtic Daily Prayer. Book 1, The Journey Begins, p.228 (London: William Collins, 2015).
‘Canaire (?-530) January 28th – Northumbria Community’, 21 January 2013. https://www.northumbriacommunity.org/saints/canaire-530-january-28th.