Advent Earworms

A simple soulful practice for December

written by Dori Baker, Our Own Deep Wells Cofounder

Image provided by Dori Baker

It is the first week of Advent; my 10-year-old godchild is practicing for her upcoming choral recital, and I have a serious case of earworms.

Doing chores, taking walks, when I wake up in the middle of the night, yes, even in yoga and while meditating, I hear the same line stuck on repeat.

Dona nobis pacem, pacem. Dona nobis pacem. I hear the words dance with spectacular effect to Yoyo Ma’s music. Some say it’s a folk tune; some say it’s of Mozart.

If you’re not familiar with the words, “Dona nobis pacem" is a Latin phrase that translates to "Grant us peace". It is sung as a traditional round, and has become famous in numerous choral works. It is also the last line of the "Agnus Dei" prayer in the Roman Catholic Mass, and has deep meaning as a prayer for peace.

Whatever its origin, it has lodged securely into my brain.

Somewhere in the middle of yesterday, I became curious about what had been merely annoying. What’s so bad about these words on loop? 

Give us peace. Give us peace. Give us peace.

As I turned to wonder, I sank into the words, sung aloud (as best I can) the beautiful melody, and allowed a gift to arrive. This song is a way of turning constantly to prayer, of, as we are encouraged in 1 Thessalonians 5 to “pray without ceasing.” Research tells us that music was used before the written words in many cultures to help people remember oral histories. Our brains evolved to remember associations and snippets in just this way.

This lyric comes from the end of Latin mass and was turned into a cantata by Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1936, as a response to rising international tensions and the looming threat of world war. 

How fitting, in the midst of today’s violent world that it resurfaces. Amid the violence of ICE in our cities, the violence of a sustained starvation campaign in Gaza, the violence of systematically targeting LGBTQ+ people for exclusionary policies – this earworm is asking me to be constantly, minute by minute, actively praying for peace. 

In a flash, I embraced this new soulful practice. An earworm as prayer.

Try it:

Begin by slowing down, find a quiet space, if you can, step outside. And listen.

What are the words or phrases on repeat in your heart? Maybe you hear none and instead take this intentional moment to write down your earworm as an intention or a mantra.

Welcome whatever arises.

.....

I will gather my small group of families for soup around my Advent wreath this evening. I’ll ask my god-daughter to teach us the song. 

May her crystal clear voice in perfect pitch plant an earworm that resounds in our world this Advent. 

Give us peace.

We invite you to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our website to receive updates on OODW resources, writing, and events. We are glad you are here.