We Fly To Your Patronage

"We Fly To Your Patronage" is a gentle, deeply reverent choral setting of one of the oldest known prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Composed by Jude Nnam, this piece takes the traditional English translation of the Sub Tuum Praesidium and wraps it in a warm, homophonic four-part harmony. The melody carries a feeling of quiet trust, perfectly capturing the essence of a congregation turning to the Mother of God for protection and intercession.

In the choir loft, this piece serves beautifully as a meditation after Communion, during May and October devotions, or at the close of a Marian feast day Mass. The arrangement allows the voices to move together through the pleading lines, "Despise not our prayers in our necessities," before building toward a comforting resolution. The soprano line floats above the lower voices, especially in the final, tender repetitions of "Mary, my Virgin Mary," bringing the prayer to a peaceful close.

Singers will appreciate how naturally the phrasing flows, making it accessible for choirs of varying sizes. It is a quiet anchor for worship, offering the faithful a moment of stillness and a reminder of Mary's enduring maternal care.