Top Catholic Songs – share, learn, promote

Nick Alexander here... We are already into our second week of Advent, with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception before us, as well as the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe. And Christmas is merely weeks away. Are you aware that TopCatholicSongs has a number of playlists already available to correspond to your Seasonal needs? And, as is the benefits of these lists, you can immediately link to the iTunes page, where you can listen to the tracks first, and then purchase them--and instantly have them downloaded onto your computer. From there, you can listen freely, or you can upload them onto your own MP3 player, or burn them directly onto a CD. If you like any particular song in the list, you are further free to explore that artist's full output, also on the iTunes page. Or, you can click to any number of direct links on these lists, and have access to a Catholic or independent music retailer, where you can purchase the full CDs (perhaps as a gift?) How do you have access to the Advent Lists? Or the Mary Lists? Or the Christmas lists? Easy. On the bottom of each entry there are a number of Tags. Click on the tag that you would want to listen to (say, Advent), and immediately all the Advent pages will come up. It will be fun just sorting through them all. In the meantime, do you have any favorite psalms/hymns/spiritual songs that are befitting for the season? Feel free to share them... leave a comment below!

Nick Alexander here... This is a lovely hymn in honor of today's solemnity: Who is She Ascends So High 75.75 Who is she ascends so high Next the heavenly King Round about whom angels fly And her praises sing? Who is she adorned with light Makes the sun her robe At whose feet the queen of night Lays her changing globe? This is she in whose pure wombe Heaven's Prince remained; Therefore in no earthly tomb Can she be contained Heaven she was, which held that fire Whence the world took light And to heaven doth now aspire Flames with flames t'unite. She that did so clearly shine When our day begun, See how bright her beams decline: Now she sits with the Son. -Sir John Beaumont, 1583-1627 Also, be sure to check out the Top Mary Songs List.

Courtesy of Grapevine magazine.

Nick Alexander here... Annie Karto has a beautiful video based on her rendition of the Ave Maria. Check it out!

Imagine by Nancy Krebs Looking at a newborn baby, nestled in your arms; you can’t believe how perfect she is, you can’t believe her charms. Imagine that this child you hold would someday grow to be the Mother of your God, the Lord of you and me. That’s what happened long ago in a country far away. Two people watched their little girl at work, at home, at play. She always did her best, she did what she was told; a child so very perfect, they never had to scold. They never imagined, how could they imagine what her future was to be, the glories she would see. They never imagined, really imagined that all hope would begin with their child who was born without sin. As she was growing up, her kindness knew no bound The room just seemed to light up whenever she was around. There was no single virtue that she did not possess; there was no single sin that she would need to confess. When she was fully grown an angel came to her. Bringing her the message and the honor God would confer. She would be the Mother of the Son of God no less. The plan would unfold with her simple answer “yes”. She never imagined, how could she imagine? What her future was to be, the glories she would see. We never imagined, really imagined; our salvation would begin with this child who was born without sin. What a life she did begin this child who was born without sin.

As a way of honoring Mary, this iMix is made up of songs from the CD Sing of Mary by Gretchen Harris. The selections are part traditional, part contemporary, but all are a heart-felt tribute to the Blessed Mother!