The Deacon's Bench People forget that Leonard Cohen wrote something else besides the now-ubiquitous “Hallelujah”.
He composed this haunting ode to love and human frailty, “Song of Bernadette.” Here’s the great Jennifer Warnes — whatever happened to her, by the way? — performing this, evidently on “The Smothers Brothers” show in the early 1970s.
UPDATE: A friend on Facebook pointed me to this more recent rendition, from Aaron Neville and Linda Rondstadt…
Imagine someone singing a song like this on a television show today (other than on EWTN)!
The heart of Mary beats with Thanks to our Eternal Father
A Mother’s heart beats with Love for her Son & Saviour
The heart of this Woman beats with Grace from the Holy Spirit.
The Immaculate heart of the Virgin Mary
Beats with Praise to the Holy Trinity.
Only Mary’s Immaculate & Sorrowful Heart,
Could be created by God to hold in awesome fullness:
The Word of God; The Author of Life; The Creator of the universe; Jesus her Lord & Saviour.. and Ours.
My oldest daughter is Bernadette. I had never heard of this song before and am grateful to have found it here. I’ll be sure to pass it on to her. Remember that St. Bernadette’s own feast day is April 16.