Worship the Lord

Sacred Music:
Hymnody

“Liturgical worship is given a more noble form when the divine offices are celebrated solemnly in song, with the assistance of sacred ministers and the active participation of the people.”
-Vatican 2, Sacrosanctum Concilium

 

It is for these same reasons that hymns are selected with the same amount of care. As text is the priority of all our music, hymns are primarily chosen with the words in mind. The melodies set to each text are also simple that children may walk out of church singing these tunes throughout the week.

In addition, unlike many “praise and worship songs” (I am the Bread of Life and Here I Am, Lord, or Be Not Afraid) the hymns chosen at our parish are within the vocal range of the child and not a grown adult with a microphone. If a congregation is encouraged to sing a hymn, it makes sense that everyone, including children, should be capable of singing them!

As we strive for a great reverence for the Blessed Sacrament at our parish, we encourage the act of prayer during Communion. Instead of being distracted by singing in a hymnal, families can focus on the reception of the sacrament. The choral music or silence during the reception of the Eucharist is intentional in providing an environment where we can adore Christ present in the Eucharist and offer personal words of thanksgiving. It is not until after everyone has received the Holy Eucharist that we pray a hymn together as one parish family. The hymns that are chosen have texts either on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist or are in thanksgiving to our Mother Mary.

After the Saint Michael Prayer at the end of Mass, we sing the Marian Antiphon proper to the liturgical seasons. While it is typically sung at the end of Night Prayer (Compline), it has been a tradition at our parish to sing these hymns to Mary at every Mass. Many parishioners are thankful for this tradition as these hymns become memorized, sung at home, and even sung when they visit the Vatican!

All hymns and Mass Ordinaries (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) are from the Saint Michael Hymnal. Mass Propers sung by the choirs (Introit, Responsorial Psalm, Communion Chant) are written by Richard Rice.

HYMNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Processional

All Creatures of Our God and King (LASST UNS ERFREUEN), #410
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (CORONATION), #415
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL), #426
Come, Holy Ghost (LAMBILOTTE), #483
Crown Him with Many Crowns (DIADEMATA), #499
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (ELLACOMBE), #575
O Worship the King (HANOVER), #689
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (LAUDA ANIMA), #716
Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him (AUSTRIA), #718
Praise to the Lord (LOBE DEN HERREN), #721

Offertory

Faith of Our Fathers (ST CATHERINE), #520
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (FULDA (WALTON)), #561
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (KINGSFOLD), #572
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (HYMN TO JOY), #601
Lift High the Cross (CRUCIFER), #614
Lord of All Hopefulness (SLANE), #622
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (HYFRYDOL), #627
O Christ, Our Hope (HERMANN (LOBT GOTT)), #647
O God Beyond All Praising (THAXTED), #659
Sing Praise to Our Creator (GOTT VATER! SEI GEPRIESEN), #750
To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King (ST. ELIZABETH), #800

Communion

Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary (ALLE TAGE SING UND SAGE), #503
Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above (INNSBRUCK), #548
Immaculate Mary (LOURDES HYMN), #577
Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All (SWEET SACRAMENT), #593
Lord, Who at Thy First Eucharist (UNDE ET MEMORES), #624
O Jesus, We Adore Thee (FULDA MELODY), #667
O Living Bread from Heaven (AURELIA), #670
Sing of Mary (PLEADING SAVIOR), #748
Soul of My Savior (ANIMA CHRISTI), #759
The King of Love (ST. COLUMBA), #784

Recessional Hymns throughout the Year (Marian Antiphons)

Alma Redemptoris Mater (Advent through Candlemas (Feb. 2)), #428
Ave Regina Caelorum (the day after Candlemas (Feb. 3) through the end of Lent), #443
Regina Caeli (From Easter through Pentecost), #729
Salve Regina (After Pentecost (Ordinary Time)), #739

HYMNS PROPER TO THE LITURGICAL SEASON

Advent

Creator of the Stars of Night (CREATOR ALME SIDERUM), #497
O Come, Divine Messiah (VENEZ, DIVINE MESSIE), #651
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL), #652
On Jordan's Bank (WINCHESTER NEW), #699
Prepare the Royal Highway (MESSIAH), #725

Christmas

Angels We Have Heard on High (GLORIA), #434
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (MENDELSSOHN), #558
Joy to the World (ANTIOCH), #600
O Come, All Ye Faithful (ADESTE FIDELES), #650
Once in Royal David's City (IRBY), #702
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (SALZBURG), #757
The First Noel (THE FIRST NOWELL), #780
We Three Kings (KINGS OF ORIENT), #822
What Child is This? (GREENSLEEVES), #825

Lent

O Sacred Head, Surrounded (PASSION CHORALE), #679
O Sacred Heart All Holy (INNSBRUCK), #680
Take Up Thy Cross (BRESLAU), #770
The Glory of These Forty Days (ERHALT UNS HERR), #781
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (ROCKINGHAM), #830

Easter

Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven (HYMN TO JOY), #423
Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise (ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!), #424
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing (SALZBURG), #437
Christ the Lord is Risen Today (LLANFAIR), #474
Lift High the Cross (CRUCIFER), #614
Jesus Christ is Risen Today (EASTER HYMN), #589
The Strife is O'er (GELOBT SEI GOTT), #788

If you have questions about our music program, please contact our Director of Music, James Senson: [email protected]