Top Catholic Songs

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MY loving king and shepherd
Your goodness fails me never
I nothing lack if I am yours
And you are mine forever.

Proud  and foolish I once strayed,
But you with love  sought me,
And on your shoulder gently laid,
And home rejoicing brought me.

Where streams of living water flow,        
To rest my soul you lead me;
Where fresh and fertile pastures grow,
With heav’nly food you feed me.
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In death’s dark vale I fear no ill,
With you, dear Lord, beside me;
Your rod and staff my comfort still,
Your cross will ever guide me.

You spread a banquet in my sight,
My head with oil anointing,
And let me taste the sweet delight
From your pure chalice flowing.
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Loving shepherd, ever near
Teach me now, thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way

And so through all my length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever.
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And so through all my length of days
Your goodness fails me never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing your praise
Within your house forever.

 adapted from Henry Williams Baker’s (1821-1877)
hymn: The King of Love My Sheperd Is
Music arrangement by Ronald St. Martin



 

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/

The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that "from infancy to death human life is surrounded by their [angels'] watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God" (CCC, n. 336). Our dear guardian angels are a special gift to each one us  that  we should thank and pray for their protection and inspiration everyday

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My dear guardian angel -  helping me all these years,

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On the last day when you come
 In Glory brighter than the sun
With all the angels and the saints        
We’ll sing that new eternal song

Jesus tells us in many ways that we must remain in him and persevere till the end. 

 

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O Spirit of the Father and the Son
Unify us in love with them as one
One church, one Faith one Lord
One Father of us all

Lord, you are the way, truth, and life

St Peter tells us in the first century about the Lord's coming.  2Peter 3: 3-10 
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

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 thank you, Lord, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels, I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excels all we ever knew of you.

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/​​​​​​​

Just as the Lord sent the greatest of prophets to prepare his way at his first coming, he now sends us the Queen of all prophets to bring us back to him with our whole hearts.

The Queen of Prophets you send to us

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O Jesus - human love divine
You turned water into wine
O Transform our broken hearts
Unto hearts like yours divine

You trusted with childlike simplicity

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Hail holy queen - mother of mercy
Our life our sweetness and hope
To thee do we come - help us be
Holy, as the Father wills us to be

Without original sin you were conceived

Father in your son we abide
And in his church his holy bride
Through him, you give us all grace
In him, we see/adore your holy face

In every time and place

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/

O divine/ creator spirit holy one
Spirit of the Father and the Son
O breath of their divine love
In you/ they live now in us

Inspire us to sing pure love songs
And of heaven for which we long

Original song post is here: https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/node/1811

A Sound and a devil

You went away on a plane 
And we waited
While six weeks went by
And when you returned you stated
I'm sick of this place goodbye

So many days so many echoes
A sound and a devil in your dreams
A sound isn't always what it seems
And the devil had his word said
While the Lord had offered a piece of bread

The red eye made you tired
Up so early you were wired
What would have been
Had you never come home
Leaving your sons and daughter alone
Whether or not you were there
Made a difference
Though the rain was always coming down

So many days so many echoes
A sound and a devil in your dreams

second half of Psalm 103 strophes 8 to 12 

Praise the Lord, my soul!
8 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him
For he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust
  9 As for man his days are like grass,
  he flowers like a flower of the field;

I wrote this song at the request of my son when he and friend led a group of young people to world youth day in Lisbon

Divine  Trinity

  G               D              C                    F          C  
From every land and tongue with joy, we come
C                                      F          C      
To Lisbon led by your Divine Son
C                                     F   C       C                           F   C             
As your children dear Father  as brothers and sisters
  C        F                    G   D   G
 To delight in your p r a i s e

My soul give thanks to the lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
  
My soul give thanks to the Lord
and  never forget  all his blessings
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your ills,
 
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
    
The Lord does deeds of Justice...