Top Catholic Songs

An offertory song: Self Surrender by Sr Delia Manhit, RC. This is cover on guitar capo 2, G.

Capo 2 G

G        GM7       C                      G
Lord Jesus I unite myself to your
GM7                G        G7       C                D7
perpetual unceasing, universal sacrifice
   G              GM7                     E                Am 
I offer myself to you every day of my life
                     D                            G                        A7            D       D7  G
And every moment of every day, surrender to your most holy will

     G                               GM7        C            D
//You have been the victim of my salvation
G                           GM7        C                  D
I wish to be the victim of your great love
G                  GM7     E                   Am
Accept my desire, take my offering
                        D              G
Graciously, hear my prayer
                E           Am
Let me live for love of you
                            D
Let me die for love of you
                G     GM7       E        Am      D          G
Let my last heartbeat be an act of perfect love//

On Tuesday evening, I played for a charismatic "Healing and Hope" mass for the Archdiocese of Hartford. For those unfamiliar with such liturgies, it is an opportunity to incorporate the dynamic elements in an informal prayer gathering with a formal Catholic liturgy, oftentimes with tremendous results.

It's always thrilling for me to play these masses, because it gives me the freedom to do what I love to do best--lead congregations with a mixture of contemporary and traditional worship songs. I believe wholeheartedly that the elements from these types of songs complement each other--a traditional liturgy has solemnity and reverence, whereas the music from contemporary praise choruses have a personal, vibrant quality. The former emphasizes God is Holy, and the latter emphasizes God is closer than your best friend. Both are needed.

Being the season of Advent, I focused my song selection with laser-like precision to focus on Advent themes: particularly the expectancy of Jesus' imminent return. Choosing songs that stayed true to the Advent season, while being appropriate for...