After decades singing at St. Mary’s Parish in Akron, Ohio I found myself asking a question I had somehow never needed to ask before: What makes a hymn truly Catholic? That question became the spark for two projects I never expected to write.

The first, What Is a Catholic Hymn?, is a short pastoral guide — available as a downloadable PDF — that helps parish musicians recognize the doctrinal, liturgical, and devotional qualities that give Catholic hymnody its identity.

Responsorial Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22 for the 2nd Sunday in Lent Year A - WORDS + CHORDS
Key of E
Capo 4

                         C                                F                C                     G                   F            C
Response - May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

             C                  Dm7    Am      Am7
The word of the Lord is faithful
         F              C                     G
and all his works to be trusted.
            F                 G                    Am   Am7
The Lord loves justice and right
         F              G                            C
and fills the earth with his love.

                         C                                F                C                     G                   F            C
Response - May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Links to 49 old Catholic hymnals, listed at Corpus Christi Watershed:

Please visit the Corpus Christi Watershed web site for updates. The following list will continue to grow & be updated. Most of these are Catholic hymnals; some are Anglican ones. Many were scanned and made available by Corpus Christi Watershed, others by Google. 

1842 • ENGLISH HYMNS in METER (A. D. Wackerbarth) —74pg 

1848 • HYMNS OF THE HEART (Matthew Bridges) —97pg 

1851 • LYRA CATHOLICA (Edward Caswall) —572pg 

1853 • CATHOLIC HYMNS with ILLUSTRATIONS (Cardinal Wiseman) —64pg 

1854 • THE HYMNAL NOTED (J. M. Neale) —226pg 
        ADDITIONAL   •   Accomp.   •   Words   •   Alt. Versions 

1854 • ORATORY HYMNS and TUNES (Fr. Faber) —202pg 

1850s • THE HYMN of SAINT CASIMIR (Various Translations)...  

Check out the results of Nick Alexander's Top Lenten Hymns:

1. Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
2. I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say
3. Adoramus Te, Christe
4. There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy
5. The Glory of These Forty Days
6. Forty Days and Forty Nights
7. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
8. Attende Domine (tie)
9. Rock of Ages (tie)
10. Take Up Thy Cross (tie)

Recommended article: Beyond Ashes by Simcha Fisher:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/simcha-fisher/beyond-ashes

Based on Isaiah 53, this Holy Week/Good Friday anthem is scored for a variety of arrangements. Accessible and appropriate for any church setting.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/UoDQxICgXDo

Responsorial psalm in Spanish for 2nd Sunday of Lent, Cycle A. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

https://insong.org/product/domingo-2-de-cuaresma-a-salmo-32-senor-ten-misericordia-de-nosotros/

The widely used melody for Lent ("St. Flavian") has now been adapted as a Mass setting and this piece is scored for vocals with Organ accompaniment. Accessible and appropriate for any church setting.

Responsorial Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 for the 1st Sunday in Lent Year A - WORDS + CHORDS
 

Key of C#
Capo 1

                        F          G            C        Am    F    G            Am

Response - Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

               Dm            G     C                     Am
Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.
                          Dm           G                       Am

In Your compassion blot out my offence.
       Dm             G                 C                         Am

O wash me more and more from my guilt
             F                                    G

and cleanse me from my sin.

 

                        F          G            C        Am    F    G            Am

Response - Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1) You reveal the life of the Trinity
How to love divinely
How to follow you daily  
The pilgrim way to glory

2) Yours the way of divine humor         
To see ourselves and our brothers
As children of our  dear Father   
Playing with joy with each other

REFRAIN
Yours the way of intimate prayer
With you and our dear Father

Salmo responsorial (responsorial psalm) para para Miercoles de Ceniza y Domingo 1 de Cuaresma Ciclo A: Salmo 50 - Misericordia, Señor, hemos pecado. Todos los versos del salmo están disponibles. / Responsorial psalm for Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent, Cycle A. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

https://insong.org/product/domingo-1-de-cuaresma-a-salmo-50-misericordia-senor-hemos-pecado/

Instrumentation: Voice, violin, bass recorder, percussion
Duration: 1’

Em     Am                            D                  Am            Em            Bm Am
Every morning through the cold and the dark you’d walk to Him

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Tender, heartfelt setting of Psalm 90 that is scored for a variety of arrangements. Accessible and appropriate for any church setting.

Responsorial Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17 for Ash Wednesday - WORDS + CHORDS

Key of C#
Capo 1

                        F          G            C        Am    F    G            Am

Response - Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

               Dm            G     C                     Am
Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness.
                          Dm           G                       Am

In Your compassion blot out my offence.
       Dm             G                 C                         Am

O wash me more and more from my guilt
             F                                    G

and cleanse me from my sin.

 

                        F          G            C        Am    F    G            Am

Response - Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/HGOiQazE2rw

Salmo responsorial: Miercoles de Ceniza - Ciclo ABC - Salmo 50 - Misericordia, Señor, hemos pecado. Descarga gratuita de partituras en el siguiente enlace. Todos los versos del salmo están disponibles. / Responsorial psalm for Ash Wednesday. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

insong.org/product/miercoles-de-ceniza-ciclo-salmo-50-misericordia-senor-hemos-pecado/

Music: Anthony Moran © 2019, Catholic Liturgy in Song, insong.org
Arranged and recorded by Richard Schletty, schlettysound.com