Top Catholic Songs – share, learn, promote

Proudly present the song, We Taste Heaven's Meal written by Dan Vi Nguyen and recorded at Diamond Garden Music.

To this timeless eighteenth hymn, various verses have been added.  I added two strophes that reflect the contemporary problems we face.
         
1 My life flows on in endless song,
All through Earth’s lamentation   
I catch his sweet, though far-off voice       
that hails the new creation.

2 When nations wage their high-tech wars

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O Christ, your friends humbly pray:
Increase your light/in these dark days
let not evil’s subtle ways
Deceive us or leed us a stray

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MY loving king and shepherd
Your goodness fails me never
I nothing lack if I am yours
And you are mine forever.

Proud  and foolish I once strayed,
But you with love  sought me,
And on your shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.

Where streams of living water flow,        
To rest my soul you lead me;
Where fresh and fertile pastures grow,
With heav’nly food you feed me.
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In death’s dark vale I fear no ill,
With you, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your cross will ever guide me.

You spread a banquet in my sight,
My head with oil anointing,
And let me taste the sweet delight
From your pure chalice flowing.
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Loving shepherd, ever near
Teach me now, thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way

And so through all my length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever.
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And so through all my length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever.

 adapted from Henry Williams Baker’s (1821-1877)
hymn: The King of Love My Sheperd Is
Music arrangement by Ronald St. Martin



 

HYMN OF THE MONTH – August: Immaculate Mary
As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen the hymn Immaculate Mary. This is a hymn that all Catholics should know but you may not be aware of the history and development of the hymn. Please take a moment to read about this beautiful Marian hymn.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/immaculate-mary/

The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that "from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their [angels'] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God" (CCC, n. 336). Our dear guardian angels are a special gift to each one us  that  we should thank and pray for their protection and inspiration everyday

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My dear guardian angel -  helping me all these years,

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On the last day when you come
 In Glory brighter than the sun
With all the angels and the saints        
We’ll sing that new eternal song

Jesus tells us in many ways that we must remain in him and persevere till the end. 

 

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O Spirit of the Father and the Son
Unify us in love with them as one
One church, one Faith one Lord
One Father of us all

Lord, you are the way, truth, and life

St Peter tells us in the first century about the Lord's coming.  2Peter 3: 3-10 
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that was very popular at St. Mary’s Parish in Akron, Ohio. It was sung on many occasions, especially for First Communion.  It is a good hymn and was written by a Sister of Mercy from the Charleville Convent in County Cork, Ireland around the 1850s. It has appeared in many Catholic hymnals over the years and multiple melodies have been composed for this one hymn. This hymn was originally written for children with a simple melody and may appeal to men and women of all ages.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/jesus-teach-me-how-to-pray/

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels, I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excels all we ever knew of you.

I thought some of you might like to know how I do research for my HYMN OF THE MONTH write-ups and so I thought I would take a moment to explain my methodology in hopes that it might inspire and help others. When doing my hymn research, the first step for me is the selection process. Several factors will affect my decision...

Please click on the link to read more.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/conducting-hymn-research/​​​​​​​

Just as the Lord sent the greatest of prophets to prepare his way at his first coming, he now sends us the Queen of all prophets to bring us back to him with our whole hearts.

The Queen of Prophets you send to us

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O Jesus - human love divine
You turned water into wine
O Transform our broken hearts
Unto hearts like yours divine

You trusted with childlike simplicity