Top Catholic Songs – share, learn, promote

St. Augustine says that “whole Christ” [totus Christus] prays the psalms. He explained, "By whole I mean with His body, of which He is the Head.” Head and body are Christ and the church. The two are united in one voice and inseparable.

In the Psalms, and not merely Psalms of praise, or general petition, but even (and especially) those on the brink of despair while alienated from God; they’re all on the lips of Jesus. He speaks for us, with us, as one with us. St. Augustine teaches us to pray the Psalms as those caught up in Jesus’ prayer and He in ours. The cross and resurrection are the life of the whole Christ; what goes for Jesus goes also for His Body, the church. This means that in our loneliness, abandonment, suffering, and even death, Christ is there with us and we are with Him, and we are in solidarity with each other.

With the Psalms, then, David prays, we pray, but above all — and with all of us together — Jesus prays. St. Pope John Paul II often repeated a quote from Vatican II that in his incarnation Christ identified with each one of us in a personal way. While on earth, Jesus prayed the Psalm with his parents at home, in the synagogue, and with his disciples. When we pray(sing) the psalms, Jesus is praying with us. When we sing any of the psalms we should imagine Christ leading us in the Psalm.

Psalm 145 is a joy-filled psalm that extols, blesses, praises, meditates on, and enumerates many of God’s divine attributes, his works, and his kingdom.

A little tune celebrating humor. A Joy-filled gift from the Lord. that we need to develop and employ in our current times. LYRICS:
LYRICS:
                                                                      The Lord of Joy
1) Your will unfolds for us in time 2) and us you purify/ refine 3You call us to rest in you 4and to share your Love and Truth
1)for in truth lies our freedom 2) and the glory of your kingdom 3)the powers of hell shall not prevail 4) as we undergo travail
1 Evil inspires a foul rumor 2) that dead is our sense of humor 3) the Lord of pure joy smiles 4) so we join him in pure laughter

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that was widely used by evening novena prayer groups. The text of the hymn may have been inspired by verses  written by Father Frederick W. Faber. This is one of my favorite Marian hymns and it was sung by St. Mary’s Choir in Akron, Ohio on various occasions for more than thirty-five years. The words and music first appeared in 1883 and can be credited to a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur.

Though not originally written for novenas, the hymn was incorporated into the evening novena programs as early as the 1930s. In addition to the traditional words and melody, I found four other melodies that were used for this hymn.

Please take a few moments to read about this wonderful Marian hymn and visit my website Mother of Mercy Catholic Hymns and click on HYMN OF THE MONTH.

God wills all to be saved (from eternal self-condemnation in hell). God takes no delight in the death(eternal self-alienation from him) of any person. In hindsight, we can see some of this in 

Chords

Antiphon *I cry to you Lord for mercy
You know all my sins - I’m guilty
Jesus I Trust in You - and Your divine mercy

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, * Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive *
to the voice of my pleading.
If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, * Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness: * for this we revere you.
My soul is waiting for the Lord, *
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord * more than watchman for daybreak.

Let the watchman count on daybreak *   and Israel on the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy * and fullness of redemption,

Israel indeed he will redeem *from all its iniquity.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, * Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive *
to the voice of my pleading.

A reflection on the good Lord's divine creativity and plan for our being brought into being - our redemption, and his and our glorification. This was revealed to us by Christ and The Holy Spirit.
LYRICS:
Down through salvation history 2) through prophets, saints & your Holy Church
3) revealing yourself ever more deeply 4) and your loving plan for your and our glory
1)O Holy Father, Son, and Spirit 2) you Love each other eternally 3) And from that Love, you poured forth 4) your divine creativity
1) You loved into being all of creation 2) and gave it a touch of your glory 3) Especially angels and man 4) You made in Your image and likeness
1) for us to know and share in 2)your Love divine and creativity 3) Giving us an intellect and will 4) able to love like you freely
1) deceived by the fallen angel 2)that we were your equals
3) rejecting you as our loving creator 4) we tasted pride -  self idolatry

Romans 8: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. Keeping our hearts focused on the good Lord we have the Faith perspective we need trust in His Providential care in all things.

I substituted missile for horse and great power for great strength as the psalmist's intention to speak to us today.
Lyrics
1)Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
2)it is fitting for the upright to praise him 3)Praise the LORD with the harp;
4)Make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
1)Sing to him a new song;
2)play skillfully, and shout for joy.
3)For the word of the LORD is right and true; 4)he is faithful in all he does.
1)The LORD loves righteousness and justice; 2)the earth is full of his unfailing love.
3)By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, 4) their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
1)He gathers the waters of the sea into jars 2) he puts the deep into storehouses.
3)Let all the earth fear the LORD;
4) let all the people of the world revere him.
1)For he spoke, and it came to be;
2) he commanded, and it stood firm.

The hymn is based on a long medieval Latin poem, Salve mundi salutare. The last part of the poem, from which the hymn is taken, is addressed to Christ's head and begins "Salve caput cruentatum" The poem was translated into German by the Lutheran hymnist Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676). The hymn was first translated into English in 1752 by John Gambold (1711–1771), an Anglican vicar in Oxfordshire. His translation begins, "O Head so full of bruises". In 1830, an American Presbyterian minister, James Waddel Alexander (1804–1859) made a new hymn translation. Alexander's translation, beginning "O sacred head, now wounded", became one of the most widely used in 19th and 20th-century hymnals.

LYRICS:
Thank you for your gift of Faith and a share in your suffering In your death in your Life
Deep inside in places unknown, You await, patiently, for me to open -to open more to your Love
Let me serve show me how what to do in everything to do Your Will - I’ll be free - I’ll be free
Please teach me the spirit of poverty, chastity, obedience Devotedly - joyfully
Shepherd me in charity, humility, and solitude So I can be one with You - one with You
You're in control make me whole - burn my soul and
Prune me back let me start to see the sparks - know your Heart
Our Mother pleads to fast and pray like never before
More and more - keep it simple and raise a score for God’s Mercy - for God’s mercy
All your children everywhere near and far are the stars
Of your family - bring us HOME - for Your glory - for Your Glory

I posted this psalm before but left out a strophe(stanza) So I recorded it again.
LYRICS:
                     Psalm 34
I will extol the Lord at all times;
    His praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
 
Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.

In our weakness and in troubling times we acknowledge God's daily care and our hope and plea to Him to bring us HOME.

Each month I feature a short story on a Catholic devotional hymn with a short biography on the author, the composer(s), and a short reflection. I have been doing these short write-ups for a couple years.

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a favorite hymn of mine, Mary! How Sweetly Falls That Word. This is a beautiful hymn that honors the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Take a few moments to read about the author and composer of this beautiful Catholic hymn and be sure to share this story with all your friends.

Many of the hymns that I feature are hymns that I sang in St. Mary's Choir (1977-2010) and new hymns that I have added to my repertoire. These hymns have kept me grounded in my Catholic Faith and I turn to them in good times and bad. They are a source of comfort and spiritual nourishment to me, and I hope for you as well. I want to share them with you because some of you may never have heard them. They are prayerful and meaningful with approved texts by the Catholic Church.

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