A simple email from my sister — searching for the Terra Tremuit we once sang at Easter — led me back to an old 1991 cassette from St. Mary’s Choir. Digitizing it opened a door into memories, voices, and a beauty we may never hear again in quite the same way.

I’ve written the story and shared the restored recordings. If you’d like to read the story and hear the restored recordings, you can find them here:
https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/easter-at-st-marys-choir/
 

For some, these sounds will be familiar. For others, they’ll be a first encounter. Either way, I hope they carry a bit of the grace we knew.

Sometimes called the Golden Sequence, is a sequence prescribed in the Roman Liturgy that is sung before the Gospel during the Pentecost Mass. Scored for a variety of arrangements. (with optional chords for an instrumentalist to accompany). Accessible and appropriate for any church setting.

Sequence for Pentecost. Voice and 6-string nylon string guitar performed by Richard Schletty. Text: Sequence for Pentecost, 13th Century; translated by Peter Scagnelli, © 1983. Tune: Mode I; accompaniment by Adrian Engels, © Interkerkelijke Stichting voor het Kerklied.

There are two days on the church calendar (Easter and Pentecost) when the liturgy calls for a "sequence," a special hymn that may be sung or recited before the gospel. The sequence for Pentecost dates from the 12th century. This setting is #981 in GIA's RitualSong hymnbook and #470 in GIA's Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition.

Holy Spirit, Lord Divine,

Come, from heights of heav’n and shine.
Come with blessed radiance bright!

Come, O Father of the poor,
Come, whose treasured gifts endure.
Come, our heart’s unfailing... 

Responsorial Psalm 117(118):2-4,13-15,22-24 for Divine Mercy Sunday - WORDS + CHORDS
Key of B
Capo 4

                       G                              D            Em     C                    G      D       C    G
Response - Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His love has no end.

               D                        G
Let the sons of Israel say:
          C                  Am  Am7
‘His love has no end.’
                D                        G
Let the sons of Aaron say:
          C                  Am   Am7
‘His love has no end.’
           D                                       Em
Let those who fear the Lord say:
          C     Am      G
‘His love has no end.’

                       G                              D            Em     C                    G      D       C    G
Response - Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His love has no end.

The Second Sunday of Easter is now known as Divine Mercy Sunday, a devotion popularized by Saint Faustina. Here is a list of great songs that can bless your Divine Mercy Sunday.

Original post by Nick Alexander. Edited by Richard Schletty.

• Divine Mercy Flood My Soul by Annie Karto
• Faustina's Song by Mark Mallet
• Jesus, We Trust In You by Critical Mass
• I Will Carry You by Sean Clive
• God's Gift to All the World by Nguyen, Schletty and van Haren
• For the Love of Humanity: a Divine Mercy chant based on messages from Christ to St. Faustina by Nguyen and Schletty
• Give Thanks To The Lord For He Is Good, For His Love Has No End by Michelle A. Sambrano ...

This story was originally published January 25, 2014

This article originally published May 11, 2017

Here is the result of a collaboration done in two days between me, Dan-Vi Nguyen (user asiansa09) and André van Haren. Dan-Vi's original post is here – you can see how the song progressed.

4/29/2017: A piano-guitar-voice score (PDF file) has been added to the end of this story. It is free for you to download. I am grateful to my colleague, composer André van Haren, for doing an engraving (music score) of his piano arrangement using Sibelius.

5/1/2017: I changed "I see blood" to "I saw blood." It sounded too much like "icy blood." I also decided to sing "I saw blood and water flowing" as a connected phrase. There was previously too much space in the middle of the phrase. This works out well to offset the vocal harmonies which now now provide counterpoint (polyphony). I also worked hard to thin out the mix in Apple Logic Pro. I had built up a wall of sound when I first added...

I was inspired by lyrics posted by TCS member asiansa09, in her blog post here at TCS: "For the Love of Humanity." Dan was hoping that someone could set her lyrics to music. I took on the challenge. 

Initially, I composed an upbeat Folk-Gospel styled song which greatly modified Dan's lyrics. It is called God's Gift to All the World and is posted here.

Next, I created a chant-styled song that is much more faithful to Dan's original lyrics and is totally different than the Folk-Gospel version. Listen to it below. I sing along with my dulcimer.

Let me know what you like and do not like. I appreciate the feedback. Let me know if you would like notated sheet music for this. 

For the Love of Humanity

CHORUS
I have seen water and blood 
flowing out from the heart of Christ.
Blessing my brothers and sisters 
for all generations.

VERSE
A message from Christ to Sister Faustina
for the love of humanity:
Christ wants to illuminate the way for us
and draw every soul to his heart.
His image is a fountain of... 

Originally posted May 3, 2017

by: Stephen DeCesare adapted from Schubert's Ave Maria.

Musical setting of the popular Chaplet of the Divine Mercy with a more Contemporary/Praise and Worship flavor. Accessible and appropriate for any church or prayer service setting. Can be used for anytime throughout the liturgical year but especially for the week after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) and throughout the entire Easter season.

YouTube video: https://youtu.be/qiKJ5xWi5D4

Responsorial psalm in Spanish for 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday). Salmo 117 – La misericordia del Señor es eterna. Free download of sheet music at the following link. All the psalm verses are available.

https://insong.org/product/domingo-2-de-pascua-a-salmo-117-la-misericordia-del-senor-es-eterna/

To get notifications of new psalms each week, please subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@InSong

Music © 2019, Anthony Moran, https://catholicliturgyinsong.org

Domingo de Pascua - Salmo 117 - Éste es el día del triunfo del Señor. Aleluya. / Responsorial psalm in Spanish for Easter Sunday, Mass during the Day.

https://insong.org/product/domingo-de-pascua-salmo-117-este-es-el-dia-del-triunfo-del-senor-aleluya/

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
REFRAIN
Hearts and voices heav’nward raise:
Sing to God  hymns  of gladness and praise

1 He who on the cross a victim

Responsorial Psalm 117(118):1-2,16-17,22-23 for Easter Sunday

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.

Tender yet powerful hymn that is scored for a variety of arrangements. Accessible and appropriate for any church or concert setting. Especially can be used during Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday and Tenebrae service.

As we celebrate the Triduum yearly
 Your Church calls us to ponder solemnly
 Your suffering and death
 And your resurrection with glorious solemnity
  You suffered the deepest agony

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL24R5dMl53I9nvY897_twC2x3l2wtEa-c&si=DIf1EaRQB1WN8QE1

We share above the playlist for the psalms sung in response to the readings at this evening's vigil mass. These settings have been composed by the Pilgrim People choirs of Singapore and re-published here with their blessing.

Please click on the link above to access.

New country style melody to the traditional hymn and is scored for many different arrangements. Accessible and appropriate for any church or concert setting.

Reading 1 during the Easter Vigil. Psalms 103 Lord send out your spirit and renew the face of the earth. Composed by Erwin Cabucos. Vocal and guitar by Erwin Cabucos.