A simple chant by Michael Herry fms with obvious liturgical uses. You can hear a sample at Amazon. I can’t find a collection to purchase with this song in it, so you may have to contact the author.
I am the vine, you are the branches
Make your home in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches
Make your home in me.
© Michael Herry 1995.
*The Marists have the made the sheet music available here.
Another excellent Vene Sancte genre song, this time from Michael Mangan. We also have used this frequently for confirmations, and as with a lot of Michael’s songs, this should not be considered only a children’s song.
You can hear a sample and buy the sheet music in the “Setting Hearts on Fire” collection, here.
I have always needed to watch the tempo to avoid going to fast on this one.
Verse 1
Holy Spirit of Fire, open up our hearts set us ablaze.
Holy Spirit of Fire, help us know the mystery of God’s ways.
Chorus
Keep us blazing, keep us burning,
Open up our hearts to fan your flames of love,
Holy Spirit of Fire.
Verse 2
Holy Spirit of Fire, fill us with a passion for your life.
Holy Spirit of fire, help us show the world your shining light.
Chorus
Verse 3
Holy Spirit of Fire, fan the flames of courage in our hearts.
Holy Spirit of Fire, help us live the Good News where we are.
Chorus
Verse 4
Holy Spirit of Fire, breathe your fire of love into our lives.
Holy Spirit of Fire, keep the embers glowing through the night.
Chorus
© Litmus Productions 2001.
We use this beautiful Monica Brown song for confirmations etc and it is very effective. The verses are sung over the second half of the chant. You can hear Monica sing it here. It’s hard to do it as slowly as that but probably worth the effort. It is available in the “Holy Ground” collection here.
If you aren’t using this song then you really should learn it and use it the next opportunity.
Mantra:
Holy sacred Spirit, breathe Your breathe on us.
Holy sacred Spirit, breathe Your life in us.
Verse 1
Create a new heart in me, oh God,
Enflame my heart with Your love, Your Spirit of love.
Verse 2
Send forth Your Spirit and renew the earth,
The longing earth, the waiting earth, the fragile earth.
© Monica Brown 1991.
An adaptation of The Magnificat by David Haas set to a traditional tune “Wild Mountain Thyme.” It’s the sort of song that people can sing easily because the tune is already somewhere in the back of their mind even if they don’t remember were they’ve heard it.
The text is at spiritandsong. It can be purchased at GIA.
You can hear some well dressed young men sing it here. There is a nice solo version here.
My version is another old MIDI file tarted up in ProTools.
This another of Monica Brown’s beautiful songs. She has a sample on her website and you can buy the sheet music there as well. It is to be done as simply as possible and repeated as a mantra.
My backing is twice through for learning purposes.
You are here, so this is holy ground.
In all that is, You are here.
This is holy ground,
The ground of my being now.
My spirit bows to you upon this holy ground.
© Monica Brown and Emmaus Productions 1999.
This gets trotted out occasionally – it has been used on Palm Sunday as an extended processional. My tattered copy says author unknown. Some kids have fun with it here.
He is the King of Kings
He is the Lord of Lord
His name is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Oh, he is the King.
A Geoff Bullock song sounding vaguely Ps 23ish that we must have used for something years ago. The tune sounds familiar – not sure what it is being influenced by though.
You can listen to a duo perform it here. You can listen to a sample and buy the sheet music here.
My backing is slow and restrained.
Verse 1
Oh Lord you lead me
By the still waters
Quietly restoring my soul
You speak words of wisdom
The promise of glory
The power of the presence of GodRefrain
Have faith in God
Let your hope rest on
The faith He has placed in your heart
Never give up
Never let go of the
Faith He has placed in your heartVerse 2
Oh Lord You guide me
Through all the darkness
Turning my night into day
You’ll never leave me
Never forsake me
The power of the presence of GodRefrain
© Nightlight Music 1993.
I get the impression this one is imprinted on the brain of every cradle Catholic – I was spared. It is by Patrick Brennan and George Elvey, although Grattan Flood also gets a mention.
It sounds great on pipe organ. You can get better backing tracks than mine and sheet music here. Mine is just slightly out of control and very fake church organ.
Verse 1
Hail Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine;
King, whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace.Refrain
Angels, saints and nations sing :
“Praise be Jesus Christ our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary!”Verse 2
King, whose name creation thrills,
rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;
till in peace, each nation rings
with thy praises, King of kings.Refrain
Verse 3
King most holy, King of truth,
guard the lowly, guide the youth;
Christ the King of glory bright,
be to us eternal light.Refrain
Verse 4
Shepherd-king, o’er mountains steep
homeward bring the wandering sheep;
shelter in one royal fold
states and kingdoms, new and old.Refrain
Extra verses
Crimson streams, O King of grace,
drenched thy thorn-crowned head and face;
floods of love’s redeeming tide
tore thy hands, thy feet, and side.Eucharistic King, what love
draws thee daily from above,
clad in signs of bread and wine :
feed us, lead us, keep us thine!Sing with joy in ev’ry home :
“Christ our King, thy kingdom come!
To the King of ages, then,
honour, glory, love : Amen!”
My mind has come up blank for this very lovely tune by Bob Hurd setting a text by Owen Alstott. I suspect the refrain would be more useful without the set prayers and the sheet music suggests a musical interlude for spoken prayers. You can buy it here. I think we’ll have to start using this again.
Refrain
Gracious God, hear us.
Gracious God, hear us.
Verse 1
For all who shepherd this, the flock of Christ:
Strengthen them; fill them with your love.
Refrain
Verse 2
For all who govern nations great and small:
Make them wise; bless their hands with peace.
Refrain
Verse 3
For all the hungry, all the poor on earth:
May your Church care for all in need.
Refrain
Verse 4
For those here present, fragile vessels all,
Day by day trusting in your word.
Refrain
© Bob Hurd 1988.
We always use this Acclamation by David Haas for Advent, Christmas and beyond. You can hear a sample and buy the sheet music here. I think their version a little staid.
Refrain
Alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia.Advent
1. You are the joy of ev’ry human heart,
king of all the nations.
Lord Jesus, come!2. You are Lord, our justice and our mercy.
Show us how to live:
Lord Jesus, come!3. Eternal light, and sun of justice,
shine in all our darkness:
Lord Jesus, come!4. Emmanuel, the joy of all nations,
come to us and save us:
Lord Jesus, come!Christmas
5. Born today, our justice and our mercy,
God in flesh among us:
Lord, Jesus Christ!Epiphany
6. You are light that shines in the darkness,
star to guide the nations:
Lord, Jesus Christ!Baptism of the Lord
7. You are born of water and the Spirit,
fountain of our dreams:
Lord, Jesus Christ!
© David Haas 1986.
