Libretto
[C = chorus; S = soloist]
I. [Dawn (John 20:1-10)]
(in English:)
-Alma, ¿qué quieres de mí? C:- Soul, what is it you desire of me?
-Dios mío, no más que verte. S:- My God, I want no more than to see you.
-Y ¿qué temes más de ti? C:- And what is it that you fear most for yourself?
-Lo que más temo es perderte. S:- What I fear most is to lose you.
Teresa de Ávila from “Si el amor que me tenéis”
C: Why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?
S: If you have taken him, tell me where!
C: Mary!
S: Rabboni!
C: Let go of my feet - do not hold me! I am no longer bound by this world!
S: My Lord, and my God!
(Chorus (in Spanish))
Alma, buscarte has en Mi, Soul, seek yourself in Me,
Y a Mi buscarme has en ti. and seek Me within yourself.
Teresa de Ávila from “Buscando a Dios”
II. [Earthquake scene (Matt. 28:2-4; text from Luke 24:5)]
S: [And] I heard a voice speaking to me from the living fire....
C: [poor] earthly creature! My light touches your inmost being with fire like the burning sun. Shout and tell!
“Do not be afraid; he is not here; he is risen.
Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)
Proclaim openly the justice which you know for yourself!
Tell the mysteries as you understand them in the spirit, as I speak them through you.
S: And I saw a light-filled man emerge from the storm and pour his brightness over the darkness;
it repulsed him; he turned blood-red and pallid [crucifixion],
but struck back against the darkness with such force
that the man who was lying in the darkness became visible and resplendent through this contact,
and standing up, he came forth out of the darkness [resurrection].
C + S: He appeared in greater splendor than any human tongue can express,
and he proceeded to the utmost heights of immeasurable glory,
where he shone out wondrously in the fullness of great fragrance and fruitfulness.
Hildegard von Bingen, from Scivias Part II, Vision 1
III. [Peace (John 20:19-23, 14:27,31b)]
S: I often wondered why, through the great and all-knowing wisdom of God, sin was not prevented
C: Peace be with you! My own peace I give you.
S: I did not see sin, for I believe that sin has no kind of substance, no share in being, nor can it be recognized
except by the pains which it causes.
C: But I do not give to you as the world gives.
S: These words were revealed very tenderly, showing no kind of blame to me or to anyone....
C: Do not let your heart be troubled, or dismayed.
S: He comforts readily and sweetly with his words, meaning this:
It is true that the sin we were born into is the cause of all this pain;
but all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well.
C: Come, let us be going.
Julian of Norwich Showings - Chapter XIII, pp 146-149: (also Chapter 27, long version)
S: Mira que el amor es fuerte. See how love is strong.
Vida, no me seas molesta. Life, do not trouble me.
Mira que solo me resta See how I can only
Para ganarte perderte. find you by losing you.
C: Vivo sin vivir en mí, I live without living within myself,
y tan alta vida espero, and [so] I hope for such a transcendent life
que muero porque no muero. that I die [now in this life] because I do not die [in eternity]
Teresa de Ávila, from “Vivo Sin Vivir En Mi”