Nick Alexander writes:
I was really taken aback when I heard this song for the first time (nearly a year later). It is truly a remarkable achievement. It's simple, but it's very deep and profound. I cannot endorse this song enough. (Now, only if the spiritandsong gurus provide a way for this MP3 to be made available for purchase...).

Note: the actual song starts at around the 5:30 mark.

H/T: T.C. Long

CATHOLIC UNDERGROUND (Chicago) is held on the first Thursday of (nearly) every month. It is hosted by the JP2 Newman Center at University of Illinois Chicago, right in the heart of downtown Chicago. It started in September 2008and runs during the academic school year at UIC. It is produced by Spirit Juice Studios

Catholic Underground was originally started by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and was a direct response to a call that began with Pope John Paul II, and is continued by Pope Benedict XVI. Pope John Paul II said that because the Gospel lives in conversation with culture, we must be fearless in crossing the cultural threshold of the communication and information revolution now taking place.

Each Catholic Underground consists of three parts:
PART 1 - Eucharistic adoration, which provides a window for each person to personally encounter Jesus Christ.

PART 2 – The showcasing of Catholic artists which includes music, poetry, visual art dancers, film, etc.
Here we experience the “new evangelization”.

PART 3 - Food and Drinks are provided for fellowship with each other.

Here is a short promotional video of the band Last Day and their recent appearance at Catholic Underground at UIC.

H/T: Last Day

A guest post from Dr. Kevin Vost, author of Fit For Eternal Life: A Christian Approach for Working Out, Eating, Right, and Building the Virtues of Fitness in Your Soul. (Sophia, 2007).

I was asked for an “ideal workout play list” so voila, here’s mine:

1. Irish Blessing by The Priests from the album The Priests
2. Benedictus by The Priests from the album The Priests
3. Salad Bowl by Nick Alexander from the album I Wanna Be Debated
4. Nicene Creed by Nick Alexander from the album I Wanna Be Debated
5. Pie Jesu by The Priests from the album The Priests
6. Hip to Be Square by Huey Lewis & The News from the album Greatest Hits: Huey Lewis & The News
7. Cry of the Celts by Ronan Hardiman from the album Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance
8. Ave Maria by Kitty Cleveland from the album Sacred Arias
9. I Surrender by Sharmane from the album I Surrender Single
10. Mass No.1 in D Minor for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra: 1. Kyrie by Bernarda Fink, Christoph Prégardien, John Eliot Gardiner, Luba Orgonasova, Monteverdi Choir & Wiener Philharmoniker from the album Bruckner: Mass No. 1 in D Minor & Motets

This list should be good for at least two cardio or strength workouts. The Priests mellow tunes will gently warm you up and then boom, here come Nick’s fast-paced pieces (and Salad Bowl will help you eat right when you’re done). Let the heart rate settle down a bit with the reverent Pie Jesu, and then pump it up again with Hip to be Square. (Sure this one’s secular, but it has a good beat and Huey sings about getting in shape, to boot.) Speaking of boots (or at least dancing shoes), The Cry of the Celts from Lord of the Dance is a high-energy tune for the highest intensity portion of your aerobic session (or strength training set.) Proceed to cool down with Kitty Cleveland’s beautiful Ave Maria, until you are ready to surrender with Sharmane Adams’s I Surrender. Anton Bruckner was a devout Catholic composer of the 19th century and his Mass #1 is hauntingly beautiful and over a half hour long. Listen to it some day when you’re out taking a long walk.

May God bless you as you psyche up your minds, pump up your muscles, lift up your hearts (and give your ears a good workout in the process). Kevin Vost, Psy.D.

Nick Alexander here...

The King's Men is a great ministry serving the needs of Catholic men. I will be interviewed on their radio show this coming Friday. To support their ministry, I have compiled my personal favorite Catholic songs that call me, as a man, to follow God more ardently as a father, a husband, and a disciple. May these songs also bless you.

1. Despite by Greg Walton from the album I Won't Back Down
2. Change Me by Tom Booth from the album Change Me
3. Just Like You by Matt Maher from the album The End and the Beginning
4. In You by Paul Harrigan from the album Thank You 2
5. Press On by Bob Filoramo from the album My Beacon of Hope
6. Acclamation by Mike Harrison & Greg Walton from the album Spirit of Fire
7. Stand On the Rooftop by Chris Muglia from the album Innocence
8. No More Fear by Aaron Thompson from the album Mystical Radical God
9. Have No Anxiety by Ed Bolduc from the album Word for Word
10. This Time of Forty Days by Nick Alexander from the album I Wanna Be Debated

ETA: The episode was a success. The archive for the interview is available on Holy Spirit Radio's Archive Page.

Nick Alexander here...
Every year at this time, special focus is given for January 22, for the national March For Life. This year, the need for support is especially vital, since we are on the cusp of a new historical administration, one which promises a quick passing of the Freedom of Choice Act.

To align myself in solidarity with the Pro-Life movement, I have picked ten songs that I consider to contain very powerful sentiments towards the reality of the sanctity of life, in all forms.

Please pass these songs along. Thanks!

1. Precious Unborn Child by Margo B. Smith from the album Sending Up a Prayer
2. Whispers from Heaven by Donna Lee from the album Whispers from Heaven
3. Malediction by Atomic Opera from the album Gospel Cola
4. Rock a Bye Bye by Extreme from the album Extreme
5. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Matt Redman from the album Beautiful News
6. It's Not the Time by Kendall Payne from the album Jordan's Sister
7. My Sweet Child by Sally Bolderson from the album Humble Beginnings
8. All My Life by Noel Paul Stookey from the album In Love Beyond Our Lives
9. What Was I Supposed to Be? by Acappella from the album Better Than Life
10. Gianna Molla (Mother's Song) by Fr. Kent O'Connor from the album Saints

Nick Alexander here...
This is the Year of St. Paul, and to honor this special time, we are focusing on songs that use the texts of his writings as a basis for songs. This month, we are focusing on St. Paul's letter to the Philippians.
As you can see, we have a pretty exhaustive list. This list encompasses all genres, from contemporary Christian, to praise and worship, to liturgical favorites. All of these songs use Philippians as a basis of its text.
Enjoy, and be edified.

1. Advent: Introitus Zum Dritten Adventssonntag: Gaudete In Domino Semper by Capella Gregoriana from the album Mystic Gregorian Christmas (Phil 4:4)
2. At the Name of Jesus by Ed Bolduc from the album The Face of God (Phil 2:10-11)
3. At the Name of Jesus (St. Ann Catholic Church Folk Group) by St. Ann Catholic Church Folk Group from the album God In Music City: The Sounds of Religion In Nashville, Tennessee (Phil 2:10-11)
4. Be Anxious for Nothing by Wes Michael from the album Words of Life (Phil 4:6-8)
5. Canticle Philippians by John Michael Talbot from the album Chant from the Hermitage (Phil 2:1-3)
6. Do Not Be Anxious by Word Of God Speak from the album Hope (Phil 4:6-7)
7. Dog 2 God by Wayne Pascall from the album Acappella Scriptures 2 (Phil 3:2)
8. He Who Began a Good Work In You by Renee Bondi from the album Strength for the Journey (Phil 1:6)
9. I Can Do All Things by Renee Bondi from the album Let It Rain (Phil 4:13)
10. I Can Do All Things by Restine Jackson from the album Restine Jackson Live At Living Waters (Phil 4:13)
11. Jehovah-Jireh (Album Version) by Don Moen from the album Give Thanks (Phil 4:19)
12. Jesus Christ Is Lord by Ken Canedo from the album Doxology (Phil 2:5-11)
13. Let Us Have the Mind of Christ by Marty Haugen from the album Only You, O God: Simple Songs for Worship (Phil 2)
14. The Love of the Lord by Michael Joncas from the album God of Life and of the Living (Phil 3:7-9)
15. May the Peace of God by Margaret Becker, Kristyn Getty & Joanne Hogg from the album New Irish Hymns 4 - Hymns for the Life of the Church (Phil 4:7)
16. My God Shall Supply by Word Of God Speak from the album Shelter (Phil 4:19)
17. Only This I Want by Jenny Pixler & Tú-Lan from the album Chon Ngài, Vol. 1 (Phil 3:8)
18. Only This I Want by Who Do You Say I Am from the album Consecrated (Phil 3:8)
19. Peace That Passes Understanding by Wayne Watson from the album How Time Flies (Phil 4:7)
20. Philippians 2 (St. Francis Evening Prayer) by Michael Joncas & The Cathedral Singers from the album As the Deer (Phil 2:5-11)
21. Philippians Canticle by John Michael Talbot from the album Cave of the Heart (Phil 2:1-3)
22. Philippians Canticle by John Michael Talbot from the album Come to the Quiet (Phil 2:1-3)
23. Philippians Canticle (Lenten Chant) by Richard Proulx & The Cathedral Singers from the album More Sublime Chant: The Art of Gregorian, Ambrosian, Gallican, and Sarum Chant (Phil 2:5-11)
24. Press On by Bob Filoramo from the album My Beacon of Hope (Phil 3:14)
25. Rejoice In the Lord by St John's Childrens Choir from the album 100 Bible Songs for Kids (Phil 4:4)
26. Rejoice! by Paul Tate from the album Rejoice! (Phil 4:4)
27. The Secret by Seeds Family Worship from the album The Power of Encouragement (Phil 4:12-13)
28. Sunshine and Joy by Lisa Bevill from the album All Because of You (Phil 4)
29. Think About It by Seeds Family Worship from the album The Power of Encouragement (Phil 4:8)
30. To Live Is Christ by Charles Billingsley, Scott Krippayne & Shannon Wexelberg from the album Better Than Life (Phil 1:21)

David Burke writes:
This song came to me in a special way, through God, of course, but I was thinking beforehand of all the things that are being said nowadays about the unborn having a voice. An unborn child is still a person and thus has a right to his or her life. We parents do not have the choice to change that. We used our choice when we enabled God to create this child, and that's where our options in that regard stopped and where our responsibilities began. So when I considered unborn children having a voice in their destiny, I envisioned these children speaking out in song and communicating with an angel about life on earth, as well as eternal life with our Almighty Creator.

We Want to See the World Lyrics
(A) - Angel (UC) - Unborn Children

(A) Children of God's love. (UC) Who are you who sings to us?
(A) I am the angel of your lives. (UC) Tell us more about our lives.
(A) You have been created by our God. (UC) Tell us more about our God.
(A) He gave you life upon the Earth. (UC) We want to know about the Earth.
(A) Earth has flowers and waterfalls. (UC) Tell us more; please tell us all.
(A) And raindrops that fall upon the trees. (UC) These are things we want to see.
(A) And rainbows that shine as bright as stars. (UC) Can you tell us where they are?
(A) Where snow-covered mountains reach the sky. (UC) We want to know about the sky.

(A) As I hear your words, I know you want to see the world, and I can feel your little hearts
just want the love that they deserve. So now we lift our voice and
pray the whole world will rejoice when we sing ...

Holy gracious Jesus Christ, we kneel and thank You for our lives, and pray that every unborn
child will see their parents' loving smile. May every mother realize that You will guard their
children's lives, and every father know the truth -- that children are a gift from You.
(UC) We want to see the world, like other boys and girls. We want to feel the love
from our mothers and our fathers.

(UC) Can we talk about the sky? (A) It's God home of eternal life.
(UC) Does it have flowers and waterfalls? (A) Heaven has all that's wonderful.
(UC) Will we ever see it with our eyes? (A) If you believe in Jesus Christ.
(UC) And what does He want from all of us? (A) To live by His word and share your love.

(UC) Dear angel of our lives, we want a chance to see the sky, so can we say a little
prayer and tell God all the reasons why. So now we lift our voice and
pray the whole world will rejoice as we sing ... (Repeat Refrain)

Source: http://www.wewanttoseetheworld.com/

Elizabeth Schmeidler writes...
With the signing of the Freedom of Choice Act pending, (which will remove all limitations on abortions) I am sure your hearts have been as heavy-laden as my own. Just weeks ago I was inspired to write and compile the Pro-life video, "My Voice".

I believe that this video may very well be the most important work that God has ever accomplished through me. Please take a few minutes of your time to watch it. I think that you will see where God's heart has led my own.

All I ask of you is two things: that you pass this video on as far and wide as you possibly can, and to pray that the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of those who are blinded to receive the message of life that the video proclaims.

Our prayers and passion, along with this video, can make a difference in the hearts of the American people and I do believe that we CAN prevent FOCA from being signed, and more still, one day put an end to abortion.

May God bless all of you and may He continue to have mercy on all those who have been affected by abortion. Thank you very much for your time and prayers!

Nick Alexander here...
It seems a lot of people are talking up The Priests, a new, extraordinary singing group. If you want to know how The Priests got their record contract, be sure to check out Grapevine News.

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!