O, St. Pancras — congregational hymn (opt. SATB choir) Smart, Arr. R. Buonaspina

St. Pancras (Pancras of Rome) was a Roman Citizen who converted to Christianity. When refusing to make a sacrifice to the Roman Gods — even after being bribed and tempted with wealth and riches by Roman authorities— he was beheaded for his fai th at the early age of fourteen years old.

The name " Pancras" in Greek translates to " the one who holds everything."

Built by Pope Symmachus (498-514), the Basilica of Saint Pancras in Rome was constructed on the very place where the young marytr had been buried. Each year, on May 12, we as Catholics celebrate the Feast Day of St. Pancras. Due to this time of May being referred to in some countries as the " black-thorn winter," St. Pancras is often referred to as the second of the " Ice Saints."

This hymn was composed for the Feast Day of St. Pancras at St. Pancras RC Church in Glendale, Queens, NYC. The above [full] audio was excerpted from the Feast Day of St. Pancras livestream (May 2020), sung by a cantor with organ (and compressed audio).
 
For more info, view it at the online catalog here!