Top Catholic Songs – share, learn, promote

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

https://youtu.be/VMYxSkqCmXo?si=dmxcd9i1KEiZQF9H

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.
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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

In this psalm of lamentation, the person cries out to God from his heart for mercy and help in his time of inner darkness and the desolation all around him.  He asks God not to enter into judgment with him as he admits his sins and weakness.  We can hear a Palestinian Christian in Gaza today, whose wife and children have been killed in bombings and has lost his home, village, and livelihood, cry out to God for mercy as he wanders hungry and in danger with his fellow refugees. This psalm could be a cry to God for help from a poor and pregnant young woman who has been rejected by her parents and recently by her boyfriend and others.

HYMN OF THE MONTH – November: Let a Pious Prayer Be Said

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn appropriate for the Feast of All Souls and appropriate to sing during the month of November as we remember to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. The hymn was written by one of America’s first Catholic authors who became the pastor of one of the largest Catholic parishes in New York City. A forgotten American Hymnodist says Monsignor Hugh Thomas Henry.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/let-a-pious-prayer-be-said/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for the Feast of All Souls
Help Lord the Souls Which Thou Hast Made
Sweet Name Which Makes the Dying Live

Father thank you for inspiring us
To sing with hearts full of praise and love
as  you delight in our songs of praise
As to you our hearts you raise

You’ve blessed us with the gift of song
 To  express our deepest  love for you

I took the Hip Hop lyrics by Alexander John and with his permission adapted them to create a Country-Folk ballad.

Love 101
Country-Folk version. Lyrics, music and performance by Richard Schletty.
 
There used to be a coldness all around
But something kept my soul from going down
I've come to know a man I call My Lord
Who's telling me to lay down my sword
 
Suddenly, my frown is down side up...

All creation groans in labor pains,
And longs to be set free
From its cycle of futility
By God’s promise, it will be

We also groan within ourselves
As we await that glorious day

An. O God you are my God, for you my soul is thirsting

O God, hear my cry!
Listen to my prayer!
From the end of the earth, I call my heart is faint.

On the rock too high for me to reach set me on high,
O you who have been my refuge,
my tower against the foe.

Let me dwell in your tent forever
and hide in the shelter of your wings.
For you, O God, hear my prayer,
grant me the heritage of those who fear you

O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you, my soul is thirsting
My body pines for you

like a dry, weary land without water. So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

1 You carried your cross for us each day Teaching us the sacrificial way
Doing God’s will with filial love Inviting us all to follow you

2 Father of Love you save and feed us Through and with your Son divine
He is our Lord. who always defends us From subtle Pride and the evil one

REFRAIN
Dear Lord help us
To persevere to follow thee
In dying with me I’ll set you free

To live forever with the Father and me In resplendent joy and divine ecstasy

3 Through Him and with Him and in Him in the Love of the Holy Spirit
we give you all praise dear Father
with all the angels and saints in heaven