Top Catholic Songs

 

 

This beautiful hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a favorite of mine. I sang this hymn with St. Mary’s Choir in Akron, Ohio. Recently, I heard Pope Leo XIV prayer to the Sacred Heart and he spoke in English to the pilgrims who had gathered at the Vatican, and I thought what a great opportunity to share this Sacred Heart hymn with everyone again.

I have not had a lot of time to do hymn research and have something prepared for the month of June as I am working on building four benches for a Mary garden at St. Mary’s.

The hymn was written and composed by a Catholic priest nearly one hundred and forty years ago. If you are looking for a hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, then here is a devotional and prayerful hymn that I think you will just love. Please take a few moments to read about one of my favorite hymns.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/o-sacred-heart-o-love-divine/
 

This hymn was written by Sister Mary Paulina Finn from the Georgetown Visitation Convent in Washington, D.C. Sister Paulina was head of the English Department at the Convent for over half a century and had a great influence in the education of her pupils and is known to have written the lyrics to at least ten different hymns. 

Please take a few moments to read about this beautiful Catholic Communion hymn.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/mother-all-beautiful/
 

This hymn was written and composed by a Catholic priest during his days as a chaplain for The Tombs, a colloquial name given to New York’s famous city jail in Lower Manhattan. His Eminence Cardinal Hayes and Bishop Dunn of New York and many other church dignitaries paid special tribute to the hymn hailing it as the most effective closing hymn for evening services ever written.

It was featured on Catholic and Protestant radio programs of the 1930s and 1940s. For Catholic’s living before the age of television, tuning into these radio programs was extremely popular and included an audience of tens of millions of Americans every week. Please take a few moments to read about this wonderful Catholic hymn.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/good-night-sweet-jesus/
 

This beautiful communion hymn was a favorite of mine when I sang with St. Mary’s Choir in Akron, Ohio. If you are looking for something different than the standard repertoire of Catholic communion hymns, then here is something different, devotional, and prayerful that will strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.  Please take a few moments to read about one of my favorite communion hymns.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/ah-whence-to-me-the-bliss/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for Communion.
Jesus Teach Me How to Pray
I Need Thee, Precious Jesus
In This Sacrament Sweet Jesus
O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Hide Thou Me
 

HYMN OF THE MONTH – January: O Cor Amoris

Singing Latin hymns in the Ordinary Form of the Mass was a cherished tradition at St. Mary’s in Akron, Ohio for more than 30 years. This was our way to help preserve the devotional hymns that once were so popular. Beginning in the late 1970s and the years that followed, St. Mary’s continued to preserve these beautiful hymns and incorporate them into New Liturgy.  Please take a few moments to read about one Latin hymn in particular that was a favorite among the choir members and parishioners.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/o-cor-amoris/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for Offertory and Communion in the Ordinary Form of the Mass.

Jesus Teach Me How to Pray
I Need Thee, Precious Jesus
In This Sacrament Sweet Jesus
O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine
Hide Thou Me

In many of my HYMN OF THE MONTH write-up’s, I have mentioned with much affection St. Mary’s Choir, of Akron, Ohio.

I have included bits and pieces about the organist and choir members from time to time. As I grow older, and Christmas or Easter comes around, I remember them even more and so I thought I would take the time to share a little history and a few anecdotes with you while I am still able.

Please take a moment to read about St. Mary’s Choir as I remember them and listen to some wonderful recordings.
​​​​​​​
https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/st-marys-choir/

HYMN OF THE MONTH – December: The City of David is Sleeping

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a Christmas song appropriate for the Christmas season. This Christmas song was composed by a religious Sister of Mercy who lived more than 30 years ago but the song itself is much older.  Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Christmas song.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/the-city-of-david-is-sleeping/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for the Christmas season.
Sleep Holy Babe
The New Born King

HYMN OF THE MONTH – November: Let a Pious Prayer Be Said

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn appropriate for the Feast of All Souls and appropriate to sing during the month of November as we remember to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. The hymn was written by one of America’s first Catholic authors who became the pastor of one of the largest Catholic parishes in New York City. A forgotten American Hymnodist says Monsignor Hugh Thomas Henry.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/let-a-pious-prayer-be-said/

Be sure to read about these other fine hymns appropriate for the Feast of All Souls
Help Lord the Souls Which Thou Hast Made
Sweet Name Which Makes the Dying Live

Hymn of the Month - October: O Queen of the Holy Rosary

I have been very busy last month and this month doing woodworking projects. I now have four garden benches to make from trees (honey locust) that once grew in the courtyard of St. Mary's in Akron, Ohio. These garden benches will be placed in the Mary Garden.


As you might imagine, I have not had much time to do hymn research, and with October nearly upon us, I decided to share again one of my favorite hymns in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. This hymn was written by a well-known hymn writer, the wife of a minister, and convert to the Church of Rome. Please take a few moments to read about this beloved Catholic hymn.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/o-queen-of-the-holy-rosary/

If the hymn above is not to your liking check out these other favorite hymns that are very appropriate to honor the Mother of God during this month of October.

Mary, Dearest Mother
Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest
Mary, How Sweetly Falls that Word
Mother Dear, O Pray for Me
I’ll  Sing a Hymn to Mary
Mother of Mercy, Day by Day
Hail, Virgin of Virgins
Ave Maria Bright and Pure

HYMN OF THE MONTH – August: Immaculate Mary
As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen the hymn Immaculate Mary. This is a hymn that all Catholics should know but you may not be aware of the history and development of the hymn. Please take a moment to read about this beautiful Marian hymn.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/immaculate-mary/

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that was very popular at St. Mary’s Parish in Akron, Ohio. It was sung on many occasions, especially for First Communion.  It is a good hymn and was written by a Sister of Mercy from the Charleville Convent in County Cork, Ireland around the 1850s. It has appeared in many Catholic hymnals over the years and multiple melodies have been composed for this one hymn. This hymn was originally written for children with a simple melody and may appeal to men and women of all ages.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/jesus-teach-me-how-to-pray/

I thought some of you might like to know how I do research for my HYMN OF THE MONTH write-ups and so I thought I would take a moment to explain my methodology in hopes that it might inspire and help others. When doing my hymn research, the first step for me is the selection process. Several factors will affect my decision...

Please click on the link to read more.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/conducting-hymn-research/​​​​​​​

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that St. Mary’s Choir in Akron, Ohio sang on many occasions, it is one of my favorite hymns. How many of us have need of a friend like Jesus? Someone who really understands, who knows our difficulties and who knows the weight of the cross. This is a very beautiful hymn to sing especially in these days when we read about and hear of the need to have a personal relationship with Jesus. The hymn has been forgotten by all except for a few vintage organists, hymnologists, and choir members like myself. Ask your organist or choir director to sing this wonderful hymn at your next Mass.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/i-need-thee-precious-jesus/

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that St. Mary’s Choir in Akron, Ohio sang for our annual parish May Crowning, it is one of my favorite hymns honoring the Blessed Mother. The hymn speaks of the blessed and beautiful days, and we are blessed in so many ways. Please take a few moments to read about this wonderful hymn to the Blessed Mother and to those who are responsible for establishing May Crowning and May Processions in this country.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/tis-the-month-of-our-mother/

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that was written by Father Frederick Faber in 1861. Father Faber was a convert to Catholicism and began writing hymns in 1848. How many times during our lives do we seem lost in earth’s dark night? How often does some anxiety overwhelms us, some fear because of the words or actions of others?

Please take a few moments to read about this beautiful collection of daily invocations to the Blessed Mother for her help, her intercession, and her protection.

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

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/mary-dearest-mother/

As part of my series on Catholic hymns, I have chosen a hymn that was written by a Redemptorist Priest. He was a missionary in England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and was affectionately known by his fellow companions as the grand old chief.

He compiled the first Australian Catholic Hymn Book which served the Catholic Church for many years. 

Please take a few moments to read about this wonderful hymn asking for God’s mercy and compassion. Please visit my website Mother of Mercy Catholic Hymns and click on HYMN OF THE MONTH.

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/god-of-mercy-and-compassion/