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Thank you

Author: Stephen DeCesare
Thank you, Richard. I’m glad the message resonated with you.

Fear not

Author: Richard Schletty
I like your writeup on this hymn. Many atheists do not know how to cope with fear and uncertainty. Christians can cope with the grace of God.

God and brother

Author: Jeremy St Martin
I like that way of putting it.  It dovetails with the idea that we become little less than God's in Christ. Sounds wrong but it isn't. "Machines that know more that we can"  That is a good way of putting it.  That is what we claim and it is a kind of ascribing to an idol things that they can't do.  The AI has knowing but it cannot know. In Christ, Fr. St. Martin

Honoring the Musical Traditions We Remember

Author: Don9of11
Thank you for your thoughtful reflection. Your insight about parish musical memory is so important. Many communities carry their musical identity forward across generations, but others do experience a real rupture — through pastoral changes, shifts in liturgy committees, or demographic transitions. When that happens, something precious can be lost, and your own experience gives voice to that reality. I also appreciated what you said about individual musical memory. Those Latin hymns and the...

Catholic Hymnody

Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for your exploration of the characteristics of Catholic hymnody. Traditional liturgical music is an integral part of this website. Your statement "every parish has a musical memory" holds true for many parishes, except those that go through a transformation via a pastoral change, a change in liturgy committee consensus, and/or a change of demographics among the parish members. Loss of musical memory happened in the parish I grew up in. One can also say that "every...

Nice surprise note holding at the end of the line.

Author: Jeremy St Martin
I thought that the end of the line was going to have a note change and when it didn't but it still resolved I was very  surprized! Like the idea that God sends us Saints and Pope's.  It is true.  He does.  We keep getting new living Gospels. It does give us hope and help us to perservere.  It helps us to stay as one. In Christ, Fr. Jeremy St. Martin

Thanks

Author: Kfmiller
Richard and Ron - thanks very much for your comments. I appreciate it.

Great Lyrics

Author: ronsue
Yes! Great lyrics . I am revert. So many people prayed for me and my wife and some gave personal witness in their words and deeds of their love of Jesus and His love for us. Thanks so much for sharing this personal song!  Ron St Martin1 

The off ramp

Author: Richard Schletty
Interesting piece. I have family and friends who exited the Catholic faith. Not sure if they saw a fine cafe or motel at that intersection. I have tried to stay on the road. Weekly Mass and prayer sustain hope.

Peter Meggison at the Devotional Hymns Project

Author: Richard Schletty
I will reach out to Peter. Thanks. 

The Devotional Hymns Project

Author: Don9of11
Richard, feel free to reach out to Peter Meggison. I've communicated with him for several years and he is very knowledgeable about Catholic Hymns and hymn books. He is also always on the lookout for good singers to record hymns. His website is a treasure trove of beautiful Catholic music.  Thank you for fixing the url. I'll have to pay closer attention next time when I post. 

I Am a Faithful Catholic

Author: Richard Schletty
I listened to the various settings of "I Am a Faithful Catholic." I like the ones written in key of G because they are more in my own baritone vocal range (tessitura). It's a good text. The tunes vary. Your #2 – I Am A Little Catholic from Catholic Hymns 1863 – sounds like the music could have been written by Bach or Mozart.  Thanks for sharing.  You have me very much interested in The Devotional Hymns Project website produced by Peter Meggison. I will...

Link fixed

Author: Richard Schletty
I changed the URL to https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/i-am-a-faithful-catholic

Wrong link

Author: Don9of11
I never noticed that. Yes, please fix this for me. I have several St. Basil's hymnals and I was weaned on the hymns. I think there great and so did a lot of other CatholiCatholics. 

Wrong link

Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I did mean to ask the question in this post because you mentioned it in your own website post on Silent Night. What I just realized is that your link to "I Am A Faithful Catholic" is incorrect in this post. Visually, it looks correct but the URL behind the link goes to https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/silent-night/ Do you want me to fix it for you?  I have an edition of St. Basil's Hymnal and the hymns look pretty good to me. I did sing from...

The White & Black List of Music

Author: Don9of11
Richard, did you mean ask this question in the Silent Night blog post?  To use a boxing match analogy the St. Basil's Hymnal was the most widley used Catholic hymnal in the United States and Canada during the early 20th century period and probably until the 1950s. It was the "Champion" of Catholic hymnals with as many as 600,000 copies sold.  What was wrong with the St. Basil's Hymnal? Nothing unless of course you were the "contender" which was the St. Gregory Hymnal and Choir Book...

St. Basil’s Hymnal

Author: Richard Schletty
In another one of your articles (your review of Silent Night) you mentioned something that still bothers me. In what ways was the St. Basil’s Hymnal so bad? Here is what you wrote:  "The text found in the ST. GREGORY HYMNAL AND CHOIR BOOK published in 1920 and 1940 was compiled by Nicola Montani. It was used in the following hymn books listed below. This is likely a result of the influence by the Society of St. Gregory America. This musical committee was founded by Nicola...

The Beatitudes

Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for sharing your rendition of this song by Kearney. We certainly need the Beatitudes in these times to of turmoil.  I found info about Peter Kearney along with his rendition of his own song: https://peterkearney.bandcamp.com/track/83-the-beatitudes Peter KearneyMittagong, Australia Peter Kearney is an Australian songwriter and singer. His early folk-hymns 'Fill My House' & 'The Beatitudes' are internationally known. He has written many other songs of justice...

Thank you

Author: Stephen DeCesare
Thank you very much.  Glad you enjoyed it.  God bless.

Thanks for this prayer song

Author: ronsue
Thanks for this heart-filled prayer song to the Father and the Son on behalf of so many of our younger sisters and brothers who are suffering in so many ways from violence and indifference. Ron St Martin 

Thank you.  :)

Author: Stephen DeCesare
Thank you.  :)

Dramatic, ambient, resonant

Author: Richard Schletty
I like this composition and recording. It is dramatic, ambient and resonant. 

Engraving

Author: Richard Schletty
Either André van Haren or myself will contact you via private messaging. Thanks. 

engraving

Author: Don9of11
Richard, Yes, I am interested. What would the cost be? Don

Saint Oscar Romero

Author: Richard Schletty
Interesting composition. Caring for the poor is imperative. What a tragedy that those in power would silence Romero. Now your composition needs to "be voiced." 

Need an engraving of the Ames recording?

Author: Richard Schletty
Don, do you need an engraving of the Ames recording? André van Haren and I can help. 

More information

Author: Don9of11
I was doing a little more research and came across some new information. The Ames Brother's recording was released on a 78 rpm record under the CORAL label. Well interestingly enough the flip side of the record was “Mother At Your Feet Is Kneeling” https://www.45cat.com/record/960628 I also located a Find-a-Grave link for Fr. Nelson https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14497590/frederic_j-nelson I haven't come across any sheet music for the Ames recording.  I was given a copy...

Sublime

Author: bondjapan
This is beautifully stirring. 

Thanks, André!

Author: Richard Schletty
André, I appreciate your words about my development of topcatholicsongs.com. It has been a labor of love of Christian and inspirational music since 2014. We met at MacJams.com (now defunct). I am so appreciative of you and several other songwriters and musicians whom I met at that song sharing and collaboration site. MacJams, in fact, is my model for this site. You taught me the basics of orchestration and music engraving as we worked on sheet music using the notation programs...

Thanks for the comment

Author: ronsue
While we must be grateful and thank the Good Lord for all and each of his blessings and gifts now, we yearn for the fullness of Life eternal with Him, the Spirit and Father and all the angels and saints Adios

Earthy Restless

Author: Jeremy St Martin
I like that distinction.  Never heard it anywhere before. Makes one realize that reslessness for heaven is good. Thank you for that idea. In Christ, Fr. St. Martin  

Thanks

Author: bondjapan
This is a very personal song.  I'm glad someone else could relate to it. 

Beautiful Lyrics

Author: ronsue
This is a beautiful faith filled song reflecting deep grief and faith. This should be sung at every funeral mass or memorial service for a young child. It's a classic!  It a wonderfully reflection of deep grief and faithThanks for sharing your gifts and  faith. Ron St Martin

Much appreciated 

Author: bondjapan
Thank you, Richard. 

Sanctify My Sorrow (Baby Bird)

Author: Richard Schletty
Welcome to Top Catholic Songs. Thanks for sharing this excellent song about a dear one leaving home. "Sanctify my sorrow" is a very poignant expression. I look forward to more song stories from you. 

Thanks for the comments

Author: ronsue
yes there are many levels and kinds of war: spiritual, interpersonal, cultural, civil, internation and global wars. Yes we called to do whatever the Good Lord wills us to do in any given situation and he will give us the grace to do it : as endure - use our talents to mitigate or help end a particular conflict, and in the case of the spiritual seeking His help and that of others as our guardian angels, Mary and the saints and our pastors and parishioners, etc.  The main point of the song...

Great lyrics!   It is true

Author: Jeremy St Martin
Great lyrics!   It is true that we have come up to the sad realities that we can't stop wars.  It is like the second half of the Old Testement.  The idea of the powerless being somehow God's chosen cam to the fore more and more.  We matured and began to see that God isn't just a God who leads you to victory in war and makes you prosper.  He does do this but not be getting us out of war or poverty but in Christ we come to find, preciencly through these things....

Karla Davis

Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for linking us to the Karla Davis song that inspired you. It is really good. 

Not entirely

Author: ronsue
A Youtube short came up a few weeks ago  of s songer/songwriter called Carla Davis and sang a song she was in the process of writing and I like it very much. It inspired me to compose I can't move Mountains. Here is the link to the Youtube short https://youtu.be/26BQ8haLyPU?si=ESumNv4siPNrUVmF

Heartfelt admission of our dependence on God's grace and power

Author: Richard Schletty
I like this song, Ron. Is the melody your own creation? It has nice arcs and flow. Good guitar work. A faith-filled  admission of our dependence on God to work miracles of faith and healing in our lives. 

Calm reassurance

Author: Richard Schletty
I like your new recording. It gives calm reassurance that following the lead of the Holy Family will bring us peace, bounty and a close personal relationship with God. Thank you for continuing to share your faith-filled artistry.

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

Author: Richard Schletty
Joyful, indeed! Well done. You have a good children's chorus in this. Has this been performed at school and church concerts?

Light, flowing harmony

Author: Richard Schletty
I especially like the light and flowing feeling of this psalm. A wonderful blend of voices and guitars. Prayerful and refreshing.

Song art

Author: Richard Schletty
By the way, that is awesome song art. 

Searching for Mary songs

Author: Richard Schletty
Searching for Mary songs – almost as fun as "searching for life forms." I enjoy your sleuthing. Hopefully you will find that song arrangement. I wonder if record companies like Decca Records keep ancient scores on file – either in original hard copy or digitized. 

Father Nelson

Author: Don9of11
Richard, it turns out that a friend of mine who lives in Wesport, Massachusettes has several magazines that were published by Fr. Nelson.  He also made records and tapes. "He established a conclave at Powers Lake, North Dakota, and had a following which included traditional nuns.  He published a magazine which was very traditional.  He advocated for the Latin Mass, traditional hymns, and traditional Catholic practices.  I think they were probably "out of the church," but I...

Thank ye! (ha!)

Author: newsateleven
Thank you Richard!  Glad to be here. Matt

Welcome, ye all!

Author: Richard Schletty
Nice to know you are back to recording. And welcome to Top Catholic Songs. "Prepare Ye" sounds good! Twenty years later and you still have the spirit and rhythm!

More info about "Lovely Lady" from N.C.W.C. News Service

Author: Richard Schletty
If you come up dry on your search, I might be able to have André van Haren create an arrangement for you, similar to what he did for "Act of Contrition." Have you seen this 8/4/1952 article from N.C.W.C. News Service? Here is the text extracted: NCWC NEWS SERVICE (Domestic) 8/4/52 - S. AMES BROTHERS, FOUR JEWISH MEN, MAKE "LOVELY LADY" RECORDING; IT'S A NATIONAL HIT MANDAN, N.D., Aug. 2 (NC) – Four Jewish youths perhaps have done more than anyone else to...

New Hymn Dedicated to Msgr. Sheen

Author: Richard Schletty
I found this news bite about the song. Doesn't provide any path to the music. Maybe you saw this? Do a search for "Lovely Lady" in this PDF. NEW HYMN DEDICATED TO MSGR. SHEEN 11/1/48 - F. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 29. -- (NC) -- The first musical setting of the well-known Marian poem, "Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue,' recently published here, has been inscribed to Msgr. Fulton J. Sheen, who popularized this prayer to the Blessed Virgin on his Catholic Hour broadcasts. The...

Thanks

Author: ronsue
Thanks for the clarification . Ron

Homeward bound

Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks for your heartfelt song about being lifted up to heaven to abide in God's love. Ron, the description field in the MP3 player is mainly meant for the title of the song, or title plus composer. You can put your description in the main body of your post, before the lyrics. That way, you won't hit the limit of characters that can be entered into the MP3 player's song field. I hope that makes sense. I believe you are familiar with editing your own posts. Holler if you need...

MARANATHA

Author: ronsue
This is the ending word in the description above-.

Thank you, Richard. Much

Author: Erwin Cabucos
Thank you, Richard. Much appreciated! 

Transposed version

Author: Richard Schletty
Good to have this version which puts the song in the tessitura of the average congregational singer. A few days ago, I boosted your original version (posted last July) by changing the post date. 

plans for the Mass

Author: Don9of11
Richard,  I was contacted by a priest in the Cleveland Diocese who was looking for this Mass, Fr. Kyle J. Rosser, Parochial Vicar, St. Albert the Great Parish. He spent some time in archives a few years ago but could never located it. Now that he knows it exist, he will be reaching out to the archivist because he has other projects he is working on.  I will probably clean up the jpg images the archivist sent me and make a PDF.  

Mass in Honor of Our Lady of the Lake

Author: Richard Schletty
I'm glad you have recovered it from the depths. What is your plan regarding the Mass? 

Mass copy discovered

Author: Don9of11
I recently received and email from the Cleveland Diocese' archivist and she has located a copy of the Mass in Honor of Our Lady of the Lake.   

Dove of the Church

Author: Richard Schletty
I had to look up Columcille. I learned something new today.  Columcille means "dove of the church," derived from the Irish words columb ("dove") and cill ("church"). The name is famously associated with Saint Columba, a 6th-century Irish missionary monk who founded the monastery on the island of Iona and spread Christianity in Scotland. The name was given to him as a nickname due to his gentle nature and fondness for praying in church.  ...

A song of thanks

Author: Richard Schletty
Thank you for this seasonal song of thanks to our creation and Creator. Nice job with this reheasal track. A nice touch of reverb in your voice. 

Lifting

Author: Richard Schletty
This song anticipates and lifts up Jesus Christ. We must constantly renew our faith and hope in our Savior. Well written and performed.

Yes God is good!

Author: ronsue
God is indeed patient. He knows when and  when we need to to be admonished.  God is good!  Adios Ron

Nice picking

Author: Jeremy St Martin
I like this so much.  His mercy for ourselves does help us be patient with the faults and failings of others. True Love refines. I like that line. We are called to admonish eachother.  That is such a lost art. We become more like God who is patient. God is good. Like the doxology at the end.   Wonderful song.  God is good.

It's a good adaptation

Author: Richard Schletty
I like how you adapted the Prudentius verses to your own styling. I was not aware of his "Beate (Beata) Martyr Prospera". Thanks for bringing it to light.

Yes I should have

Author: ronsue
Some lyrics do come from Martyr Aurelius Clemens Prudentia, ca.348 - 405 C 2023 ICEL. I wrote some of the lyrics, sang and recorded it several weeks ago and I forgot to mention it. Thanks for the corection. Ron

Text credit

Author: Richard Schletty
Ron, you should mention that some of your lyrics come from this ancient hymn: Text: Beate (Beata) Martyr Prospera, Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, ca. 348-405, © 2023 ICEL https://app.neumz.com/listen/matutinum-beate-martyr-prospera-1-164675/14-08-2023 https://tosingistopraytwice.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/beate-martyr-prospera/

Wonderful in every way.  I

Author: Jeremy St Martin
Wonderful in every way.  I like so much about this song and so in no particular order: I like the melody.  I like the ask of God  to take no account of all our faults. I like way you sing home with the upward motion at the nd. God is good. Jeremy

Full circle

Author: Richard Schletty
We've come full circle to the end of Cycle C in 2025. I first listened to this in November of 2022. Liturgical time flies! This is among the best of your responsorial psalms.  I see you discovered the Tags feature which I recently activated. I am still learning new things about Drupal CMS. Tip: Don't enter "Psalm 121 122" as a tag. Enter "Psalm 121" and "Psalm 122" separately as tag keywords. Peace, Richard

SSND nuns taught me how to spell

Author: Richard Schletty
The School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) in Minnesota – and a handful of lay teachers – taught me how to spell in grades 1-12. They instilled in me a love of learning and accuracy in writing. My respect and care for proper grammar and spelling continued throughout my four years at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. See these articles on reverential capitalization. The jury is still out. It's personal or publisher preference. https://www.stcatherinercc.org/single-post/...

How do you know how to spell

Author: Jeremy St Martin
How do you know how to spell so well?  That must take a lot of study.  I think capitals and lowercase realities are far easier to understand.  The words you quoted are spelled right?  Is that rite?  I mean Wright.  O.K.  

THANKS

Author: ronsue
Our true and eternal home is being in joy filled union with our Father, our Lord ,Holy Spirit  and with Mary and all the saints and angels in heaven!  

Guitar accompaniment?

Author: Richard Schletty
Thanks, Erwin, for sharing your setting of Psalm 27.  The guitar accompaniment file is the same as the guitar plus voice version. Is this a mistake? You can edit your post if you need to upload a new audio file.

Thy Will Be Done

Author: GregR
This song is really great. I like the expression of yearning for a home beyond a home. 

Thank you

Author: ronsue
Thanks for your encouraging comment Ron

Wow

Author: Jeremy St Martin
That came out good. The exhelation at the end was very good. We do know that our true home is in heaven; in the depths we know this.   Beautiful

Thanks very much

Author: Kfmiller
Thanks very much, Richard. Will definitely try to get it performed.

Now and 177 AD

Author: Richard Schletty
I like the juxtaposition of now vs. then (177 AD). I have used a similar device in some of my writings. Very interesting narrative. I hope you can get someone to sing this. "The girl rose past the crowd and its noise" – a great line. A view of her ascent.

Many melodic approaches

Author: Richard Schletty
There sure were a lot of different melodies and chord progressions written for the Faber text. The melody by W. C. Peters (Peters’ Catholic Harp, 1895) is difficult to sing with its high ascents and huge intervals. I like the simple melody by Henry Baker – Arundel Hymnal, 1905. It is in my tessitura.

Great lyrics

Author: Kfmiller
Great lyrics work with strong chord selection to make this really powerful. 

GIA Archivist looking

Author: Don9of11
Thank you Rich for looking. I reached out to GIA archivist and she is going to check with the editors if they have anything. They may want me to sign something limiting my use of the mass setting to research only. I also checked with the Cleveland Diocese archives and they don't have anything.   Don

Unable to locate Mass in Honor of Our Lady of the Lake

Author: Richard Schletty
I have never heard of this Mass. My interweb search also came up dry. Good luck with your search, Don. Here's a good bio of Rev. William Jurgens: https://case.edu/ech/articles/j/jurgens-rev-william-hed

Choose Life

Author: Stephen DeCesare
I presented it everywhere I could.  Unfortunately this is a topic that gets like thin ice and hard to find an audience for.  I really like your piece.  You should self-publish it on sheetmusicplus and all the other platforms.  Share it on Twitter and other outlets just to get it out there.  That's what I do.   I have one very similar to it that I'm putting up tomorrow called "Right to Life" where the mother is VERY selfish and only thinking of her and wants the...

Thank you

Author: Stephen DeCesare
:)

The choice should always be for life

Author: Richard Schletty
A very poignant and heartfelt dialog. Excellent performance. Where did you present this song? By the way, I collaborated on a song with a similar theme – except that the father of the unborn child chose death, followed by a lifetime of regret. topcatholicsongs.com/daddy-shultz-schletty

Catchy canon

Author: Richard Schletty
I like this. It would work well for a grade school concert. Well done.

Thanks

Author: asiansa09
Thank Richard,  I write the song in the form of a song lyric.  It is not a complete song yet, but it speaks from the heart about how I feel at the moment.  It is a journey of faith, and it is an open door of opportunity for others to participate in completing the song. This is the Jubilee 2025 year, and it is a reminder for everyone to enter the Holy Door for blessing upon Christ & the Holy Family in the direction of the saints. 

Timely Post

Author: Michelle Sambrano
Thank you for sharing, Richard. This is a timely post for some of the work we are doing at the moment.

The Grotto

Author: Richard Schletty
Dan Vi: Thanks for sharing your verses about the The Grotto – The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. I visited the website thegrotto.org. What a beautiful place for centering oneself in this "oasis in the city [where] visitors and pilgrims find serenity, comfort, and inspiration as they walk through the gardens." It would be hard to turn this into a song with regular meter and rhyme. However, it could be sung in plainchant style.  Your words could also be an...

Thank you, Cecil.

Author: Erwin Cabucos
Yes, I was cogniszant of that when I composed it. I wanted the verses to rise up to a wider horizon from the heavy emotive tone of the refrain or response. Thanks for the comment :) -Erwin

Thaxted

Author: Cantor Cecil
A familiar tune! I love it. From Wikipedia: "Thaxted" is a hymn tune by the English composer Gustav Holst, based on the stately theme from the middle section of the Jupiter movement of his orchestral suite The Planets and named after Thaxted, the English village where he lived much of his life.

Nice chord progressions and melody

Author: Cantor Cecil
Well done. I like the chord lift at the end of the refrain, leading into the verses.

Lyrics

Author: AlmosLataan
Thank you.  I often write things a little too fast, and end up making many revisions and versions. Something I'm learning from.     Thank you again for your kind words.

Your joy I’ll be

Author: Richard Schletty
I like the revised lyrics – the thoughts of a preborn child using simple poetry, directed to both mother and father. Very nice.

Send hymn accompaniment

Author: Richard Schletty
You can email the accompaniment directly to me at info@topcatholicsongs.com. Then I can upload it to this comments thread (via FTP). Or you can attach it to your original post above. Follow the directions here: https://www.topcatholicsongs.com/insert-an-image

hymn accompaniment

Author: Don9of11
OMG, I just got this in an email only a few moments ago.  I have the accompaniment for this hymn but it won't let me upload it.  [Don sent the file to site admin, Richard, who is posting it here] PDF file: O-Fairest-Flower-of-Italy-St.-Christine-keyboard-accompaniment

O Fairest Flower of Italy hymn

Author: Richard Schletty
For anyone who is curious, here is the hymn "O Fairest Flower of Italy". As Don wrote above, lyrics were written by the Sisters of Notre Dame and music was composed by Bishop Schrembs. This is a simple melody version. I do not have the organ accompaniment for Diocesan Hymnal, Part Two, Hymns for Monthly Devotions, J. Fischer & Bro., 1928.

Thank you

Author: Stephen DeCesare
Thank you.  Never heard about this saint until someone posted on him on Twitter.  Fascinating story and I had to write something.

Viva Cristo Rey!

Author: Richard Schletty
Nicely composed and performed. An inspiring story and prayer to bolster our faith.

Empty handed but enriched

Author: Richard Schletty
Yes, I came up empty handed on my research but was enriched by the things I found out about this particular St. Christina, as well as the liturgical musical contributions of Bishop Joseph Schrembs.

Great research!

Author: Don9of11
Thank you for your research and efforts to locate the hymn. I was in touch with the Cleveland Diocesan Music Director and he informed me that the Cathedral archives has a Litany set to music by Bishop Schrembs for St. Christina, however I have not seen it yet.  I have all three of Bishop Schrembs Diocesan hymn books and the hymn "O Fairest Flower of Italy" was written by the Sisters of Notre Dame and was set to music by Bishop Schrembs and harmonized by J.M. , who happens to be Joseph...
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