All Shall Be Well

"And you shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well."

This is the premiere of a new motet from composer Robert Buckley Farlee. It was commissioned by the Institute of Liturgical Studies' advisory council to honor Rev. Brian Johnson as he ended his term of service at Valparaiso University, where he had been Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry.

The composer chose to compile a text from the writings of the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich (1343–after 1416), having long been fascinated by her writings. Julian is known as the first woman to write a book in the English language—The Revelations of Divine Love.

As the refrain recurs, it is similar but not identical each time. This could be said to reflect how the words affect us differently each time we encounter them. The piece ends—before the final statement of the antiphon—with the wonderful passage in which Julian presents God as using a variety of modal verbs. God may, can, will, and shall make all things well. Farlee beautifully reflects this marvelous intensification through the music.

All Shall Be Well—Robert Buckley Farlee, b. 1950
Truth sees God, and wisdom beholds God.
And from these two comes the third,
a holy and marvelous delight in God,
who is love.

Refrain. All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

The properties of God are these: life, love, and light.
There is marvelous homeliness in life,
gentle courtesy in love,
and in light there is endless kindness.
Refrain

God did not say, “You shall not be tormented,
you shall not be troubled, you shall not be grieved,”
but God said, “You shall not be overcome.”
Refrain

And our good Lord said, I may make all things well,
and I can make all things well,
and I will make all things well,
and I shall make all things well,
and you shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well.
Refrain

Rubric. Sung by choir

Recorded at Valparaiso University, Chapel of the Resurrection, Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Conductor. Sally Messner
Sound recording by Allison Plachta. Sound editing by Allison DeMik.
Photo. Daniel Asselstine

The Elm Ensemble
Supporting worship in a variety of congregations with creative liturgical planning
Elm Ensemble Directors. Sally and Josh Messner

Institute of Liturgical Studies
An Ecumenical Conference on Liturgical Renewal for the Church Today
Institute Directors. Chad Fothergill and Brian Johnson

Text sources (all Long Text) chapters 44, 27, 83, 68, and 31, trans. composite
Music © 2021 Robert Buckley Farlee

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