Mō Maria

{{Sources exist|date=May 2024}}

{{short description|Catholic hymn written and sung in Māori}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = "Mō Maria"

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| translation = For Mary

| native_name = Mō Maria

| native_name_lang = mi

| composer =

| genre = Christian hymn

| occasion =

| text = Jean-Baptiste Pompallier

| based_on =

| meter =

| composed = 1842

| published =

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = song

| header =

| file = File:Mō Maria by Te Kura Taumata o Panguru.mp3

| description = Rendition by Te Kura Taumata o Panguru

}}

}}

"Mō Maria" ({{langx|en|"For Mary"}}) is a Christian hymn written by Jean-Baptiste Pompallier in 1842.{{cite web |title=Mo Maria |url=https://www.godsongs.net/2015/09/mo-maria-aianei.html |website=GodSongs |access-date=8 January 2024}} After Pompallier had landed in New Zealand in January 1838, he sought to build a relationship with the Maori people of New Zealand. Bishop Pompallier wrote a hymn in Māori. "Mō Maria" continues to be sung throughout New Zealand in many Catholic churches.{{cite web |title=MŌ MARIA HIMENE |url=https://www.tearaamaria.nz/mo-maria-himene |website=Te Ara a Maria |access-date=8 January 2024}}

History

=Text=

The original text of the hymn was written by Bishop Pompallier after he landed in New Zealand. Wanting Māori to join the Catholic Church, he wrote a hymn in Māori honouring Mary so that it could be understood and sung among the Māori people and their tribes.

"Mō Maria" originally contained 14 verses. However, they are not always sung.

=Tune=

It is unknown whether the tune of "Mō Maria" was composed by Bishop Pompallier or if it was adapted from an existing Māori tune.

Lyrics

These are four verses along with their English translation.

{{Lang|mi|Mō Maria aianei

O tātou waiata

Kia kaha rā tātou

Kia nui te aroha.}}

{{Lang|mi|Mō Maria aianei

O tātou waiata

Kia kaha rā tātou

Kia nui te aroha.}}

{{Lang|mi|Aroha ki te Atua

Aroha ki a Maria

i te Rangi,

te whenua

āke tonu, āke tonu.}}

{{Lang|mi|Mō Maria aianei

O tātou waiata

Kia kaha rā tātou

Kia nui te aroha.}}

{{Lang|mi|Āmene}}

|For Mary now

Our songs

Let us be strong

Let there be great love.

For Mary now

Our songs

Let us be strong

Let there be great love.

Love God

Love Mary

In heaven

And on earth

For ever and ever.

For Mary now

Our songs

Let us be strong

Let there be great love.

Amen

References