Top Catholic Songs

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!

The Immaculate Conception is not, as many believe, about Jesus' entry into the world (that would be the Incarnation). Instead, it is a focus on Mary--a vessel that God created to be free from the stain of original sin--so that Jesus would be born through her. The proof of such belief has come about thru centuries of debate, but it rests that Jesus' very divinity rests on Him being fully holy, and thus not being born in the state of original sin. Preserving Mary from such a state says more about God than it does about Mary.

The above are a list of songs that I find to be beautiful and appropriate for the feast of The Immaculate Conception. One of them, O Purest of Creatures, is a rare gem that I have in an old hymnal.

O Purest of Creatures
Traditional

O purest of creatures! Sweet Mother, sweet Maid!
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurl'd:
And the tempest-tost Church all her eyes are on Thee
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

He gazed on thy soul; it was spotless and fair;
for the empire of sin - it had never been there;
none ever had owned thee, dear Mother, but he,
and he blessed thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Earth gave Him one lodging, 'twas deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;
His home and his hiding place, both were in thee,
He was won by thy shining Sweet Star of the Sea.

Oh, blissful and calm was the wonderful rest
that thou gavest thy God in thy virginal breast;
for the heaven he left he found heaven in thee
and he shone in thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.