Top Catholic Songs

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.

The song art is the center portion of a massive 50-foot-wide mural I painted for Holy Spirit Parish a few years ago. Details here: Grasped by the Holy Spirit mural

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... 

Scored for a 2-part choir hymn (Women on melody and Men on Harmony), Solo, Oboe and Piano. Simple repetitive chant melody followed by the soloist's counter-melody of the English text. Can be used any time the Holy Spirit is the topic.

Gentle contemporary setting of Psalm 104 that is mainly used during Pentecost, the sacrament of Confirmation or when the theme is centered around the Holy Spirit. Scored for a variety of arrangements. Accessible and appropriate for any church setting.

We invite you to visit Catholic Liturgy in Song, a new website that is currently offering free downloads of audio demos and sheet music for a wide range of liturgical and faith formation uses:
 

Catholic Wedding Songs

Confirmation/Youth Mass

Faith Songs for Kids

Misa para Funerales

Responsorial Psalms • Salmos Responsoriales

Sabado Santo / Pascua • Holy Saturday / Easter Vigil

Faith Songs for Liturgies and Devotions

Faith Songs for Everyday Living

 

Please visit catholicliturgyinsong.org

Here is an easy-to-remember shortcut address for the site: insong.org

Liturgy is derived from an ancient Greek word meaning "the work of the people". Our website is "the work of the people in song." It is also the Catholic mass in song. Taken together, "Liturgy in Song" covers a lot of ground – from sacred hymns and psalms to sacramental songs to catechetical songs to inspirational songs of faith. We embrace the Catholic tradition of music with lyrics that are theologically and doctrinally sound. Our songs are easy to learn and perform.

Note our growing collection of Salmos Responsoriales – written specifically for guitar-centric Spanish-speaking congregations with official texts from usccb.org/bible/lecturas. We will eventually cover the entire three-year liturgical calendar (ciclos A, B y C).

Sincerely,
Anthony Moran (composer)
Richard Schletty (media manager)

For Release July 8, 2008 Green Bay, WI The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are offering a free download for young Catholics traveling to World Youth Day at their website http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living/ “Come Holy Ghost/Enkindle”, performed by Kataluma, re-imagines the traditional hymn, correlating with the Pentecost theme of World Youth Day 2008. It’s both a benediction for youth traveling to Sydney, as well as a way for those who can’t attend to take a ‘multicultural musical journey’. “Come Holy Ghost/Enkindle” begins with a ’summons’ to Sydney, played on an Aborigine Didgeridoo. Just as Catholic youth from around the world will bring their own culture and gifts to Sydney, it incorporates different rhythms, from Catalonian to Congolese, and instruments from around the world. Some include an accordion from Germany, electric guitar and dulcimer from the United States, kalimba from Angola, a saz, or lute from Greece, shaker from Peru, rain stick from Guatemala, harp from Ireland, trumpet from Mexico. In deference to Pope Benedict XVI’s favorite composer, it even includes a brief passage from Mozart’s ‘Rondo Alla Turca’. Also, there’s a bit of Gregorian Chant. In Mark’s Gospel, the Greek word Kataluma designates a “Dining Room” where the Last Supper takes place (and, some suggest, the same room where Pentecost occurred). More commonly, it describes the ‘breaking up or reprieve of a journey’. In this instance Kataluma designates the occasional coalescence of Milwaukee area musicians and creatives: John Tanner, Sue Bruk, Bob Monagle and Mark Kolter, who fashioned the transglobal approach to the hymn “Come Holy Ghost/Enkindle” Sister Mary Carol, OSF, of the Franciscan Sisters Music Conservatory commented “How many people today hear or sing the hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost?” Although this is the title, the actual words are first heard about 2 and 1/2 minutes into the recording. The melody to the 19th century hymn is heard in bits throughout the piece.” “Multiple listening to the song reveal a more complex composition than first expected. Our daily lives are also complicated...However, as the minutes and hours unfold, changes occur that lead to a profound belief in the Spirit who leads us through the ups and downs of each moment. “ Established in 1869, the Roman Catholic Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity serve in Catholic health care, education and parish ministries in 13 U.S. dioceses (Green Bay, Superior, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Tucson, Honolulu, Chicago, Marquette, Jackson, Lincoln, Omaha, Columbus and Steubenville). www.fscc-calledtobe.org