Stay with Me, Lord

A setting of Padre Pio's “Prayer after Holy Communion” commissioned by the Genesis Foundation and first performed by The Sixteen in June 2008 at Westminster Cathedral, London. Padre Pio (1887-1968) was, in his lifetime, a controversial and holy man, and was canonized St. Pius of Pietrelcina in 2002. He is known unofficially as “the patron saint of stress relief,” in accord with his most famous dictum, “Pray, hope and don't worry.” Will Todd sets an English version of the text by Ben Dunwell; by turns gentle and intense, the resulting choral prayer captures the reflective and emotional core of Pio's words. Duration: ca. 6:30.