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HYMN OF THE MONTH – January: O Cor Amoris

Singing Latin hymns in the Ordinary Form of the Mass was a cherished tradition at St. Mary’s in Akron, Ohio for more than 30 years. This was our way to help preserve the devotional hymns that once were so popular. Beginning in the late 1970s and the years that followed, St. Mary’s continued to preserve these beautiful hymns and incorporate them into New Liturgy.  Please take a few moments to read about one Latin hymn in particular that was a favorite among the choir members and parishioners.

Please visit my website Mother of Mercy Catholic Hymns and click on HYMN OF THE MONTH.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/o-cor-amoris/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for Offertory and Communion in the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

Jesus Teach Me How to Pray
I Need Thee, Precious Jesus
In This Sacrament Sweet Jesus
O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Hide Thou Me

Isaiah lived about seven hundred years before Christ. He gave the breathtaking prophecy that God would create a new heaven and earth and gave some details of what that would be like. There was nothing like this in the ancient world, no speculation or ideas. St. John the Apostle/prophet tells us in the book of Revelation (eight hundred years after Isaiah) that he actually SAU the new heavens and earth and gave some details of what he saw.

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NOTE: We originally published this post in May of 2017. We submitted this song to Oregon Catholic Press (ocp.org) but it was not accepted.

​Our World So Beautiful is a Christmas song co-written by Dan vi Nguyen, Richard Schletty and André van Haren. Dan posted her lyrics here and asked if anyone could make a song out of her words. Richard Schletty rewrote the lyrics to give them a consistent rhyme, line length, metrical pattern and overall poetic structure. Then Richard came up with a melody. Next, André van Haren wrote a beautiful piano arrangement based on an a cappella recording of the melody by Richard. Using Sibelius, André engraved the sheet music not only for piano and voice, but developed the song fully by adding guitar chords and two additional instruments: flute and cello. He also engraved a version of the song with optional SATB harmonies in the refrain... 

Antiphone
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!           
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice - rejoice

 Psalm 89

Ant. Wherever you are, Lord, there is mercy, there is truth.

I will sing forever of your love, O Lord;
through all ages, my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever,

re: Joy To The Humble (ronsue's blog) 

Thanks Ron for helping us look at the classic Christmas songs in new ways!

    
 1) 1 Joy to the humble and the meek
2 Who for peace and mercy seek
3 for all the poor in spirit and pure of heart
4 who long to be truly free
 5 and live life fully

Lyrics adapted from original lyrics of Simon Joseph Pellegrin (1663–1745) - an old French tune  

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/VMYxSkqCmXo

In many of my HYMN OF THE MONTH write-up’s, I have mentioned with much affection St. Mary’s Choir, of Akron, Ohio.

I have included bits and pieces about the organist and choir members from time to time. As I grow older, and Christmas or Easter comes around, I remember them even more and so I thought I would take the time to share a little history and a few anecdotes with you while I am still able.

Please take a moment to read about St. Mary’s Choir as I remember them and listen to some wonderful recordings.
​​​​​​​
https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/st-marys-choir/

       REFRAIN
Come now fill us with your will divine
Consume our will by your Spirit refine
that we may live now as you will                  

 
On Dec 3, the first week of Advent, the Church gave us in the office of readings the reading from Isaiah 2: 6-22, 4: 2-6 to reflect on. Comparing it to our time in some ways,  the developed world
 is similar in the number of vehicles (horse-power), chariots -the number of weapons of all sorts (we can hardly keep up production to meet demands). We have scores of psychics and fortune tellers to say nothing of economic, political, and cultural forecasters both social and personal(economic advisers). All large cities around the world are noted by tower skylines. Idolatry in the form of materialism
  seems to dominate - worshiping the works of our hands. 
                                       
Ant.  We have abandoned you O Lord - help us return to You
                           
 Lord, you have abandoned your people,
Because they are filled with fortune tellers
and soothsayers, like the Philistines
they covenant with strangers.

Their land is full of silver and gold,
   and there is no end to their treasures;
Their land is full of horses,
   and there is no end to their chariots.

Their land is full of idols;
   they worship the works of their hands,
   that which their fingers have made.

The haughty eyes of man will be lowered,
   the arrogance of men will be abased,
   and the Lord alone will be exalted, on that day.
For the Lord of hosts will have his day
 
 against all that is proud and arrogant,
   all that is high, and it will be brought low;
Against every lofty tower
   and every fortified wall,
Against all the ships of Tarshish
   and all stately vessels.


Human pride will be abased,
   the arrogance of men brought low,
And the Lord alone will be exalted, on that day.
   The idols will perish forever.
From the terror of the Lord
   when he arises to overawe the earth.

ANT.  We have abandoned you O Lord - help us return to You

From the book of the prophet Isaiah   2:6-22; 4:2-6
 

HYMN OF THE MONTH – December: The City of David is Sleeping

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a Christmas song appropriate for the Christmas season. This Christmas song was composed by a religious Sister of Mercy who lived more than 30 years ago but the song itself is much older.  Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Christmas song.

Please visit my website Mother of Mercy Catholic Hymns and click on HYMN OF THE MONTH.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/the-city-of-david-is-sleeping/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for the Christmas season.
Sleep Holy Babe
The New Born King

REFRAIN
In this time of Advent longing - to celebrate your first coming

The refrain of this chant is gleamed from the Divine Mercy and Divine Will devotions. It is a good ejaculatory prayer to recite during the day. Ejaculatory prayers are also known as aspirations.  At times ejaculatory prayers are more effective than long prayers because they are a concentration of many knocks into one. 

REFRAIN
Jesus, I trust in you - Your kingdom come
I give you my will - Please give me yours - to live in