To Keep a True Lent

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Instrumentation: SATB chorus Completed: January, 2012 Commissioned: for the Centennial of St. Benedict Catholic Church, Richmond, VA, James A. Dorn, Choirmaster & Organist Duration: 2 minutes Text: from Works of Robert Herrick, vol. II (1891) by Robert Herrick (1591-1674). Public domain.

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Text

Is this a Fast, to keep
    The larder lean
        And clean
From fat of veals and sheep?

Is it to quit the dish
    Of flesh, yet still
        To fill
The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an hour,
    Or ragg’d to go
        Or show
A down-cast look and sour?

NO: ‘tis a Fast to dole
    Thy sheaf of wheat
        And meat
Unto the hungry soul.

It is to fast from strife
    And old debate
        And hate;
To circumcise thy life.

To show a heart grief-rent;
    To starve thy sin,
        Not bin;
And that’s to keep thy Lent.