This is a Chamorro hymn to Our Lady of Mount Carmel which teaches us how the early Christians associated the Blessed Mother with a cloud coming from the sea which the prophet Elijah saw on Mount Carmel in northern Israel.
The land was suffering a severe drought and Elijah, from his mountain, looked to the sea for a sign of rain. Finally he saw a small cloud coming towards the land and this meant rain, the end of the drought and of hunger and suffering.
Mary is like that cloud. Clouds bring rain, which blesses the land. Mary brought forth Jesus, who saves mankind.
This version of the Chamorro hymn is the one sung in Sumay before the war and now by the people of Santa Rita. It sounds a little bit different from the way it is sung in other parts of the island.
LYRICS
Atan guihe gi san lago a'annok i mapagåhes.
(Look there at the ocean, the cloud is visible.)
Refrain : Mapagåhes gi Katmelo maila' ya un Nånan-måme.
(Cloud of Carmel, come be our Mother.)
1. Ya humuyong homhom uchan ya i tano' inichåne
guiya muna' uchan påpa' ayo i Sainan i langet.
(And the dark rain came and the earth was rained on
she made rain down the Lord of heaven.)
2. I nuhong-ña un hinemme gi minaipen talo'åne
i binibun i Saina-ta si Maria u linangle.
(Her shade will cover you from the noonday heat
Mary will shield the anger of our Lord.)
3. Si Yu'us ha' un gineggue Raina Nånan mina'åse'
såtbe lina'la' i taotao yan ninangga yan minames.
(God defend you Queen and Mother of Mercy
hail life of the people and their hope and sweetness.)
4. Håye ennao i kumahulo' kalan atdao talo'åne?
Si Maria Nånan Yu'us i sen gasgas i tailamen.
(Who is that who rises like the noonday sun?
It is Mary the Mother of God, most pure and sinless.)
5. Ya pinipet si Maria as Jesus hulo' gi langet
ya pine'lo gi tronu-ña Saina Rainan i man ånghet.
(And Mary was escorted by Jesus up to heaven
and placed on her throne as Queen of Angels.)
6. Tayuyute ham Maria gai Yi'us na mapagåhes
un ma åse' nu i taotao mames na Bithen det Kåtmen.
(Pray for us Mary, the cloud containing God
have pity on the people sweet Virgin of Carmel.)
