Jesus the Lord (Roc O'Connor)

Refrain:

Jesus, Jesus
Let all creation bend the knee to the Lord.

 1. In Him we live, we move and have our being;
In Him the Christ, In Him the King!
Jesus the Lord.

2. Though Son, He did not cling to Godliness,
But emptied Himself, became a slave!
Jesus the Lord.

3. He lived obediently His Father's will
Accepting His death, death on a cross!
Jesus the Lord.

Composer: Roc O'Connor

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Behold the Wood (Dan Schutte)

Refrain

Behold, behold, the wood of the cross,
On which is hung our salvation.
O come, let us adore.

1. Unless a grain of wheat shall fall
upon the ground and die
It shall remain but a single grain,
and not give life

2. And when my hour of glory comes
as all was meant to be
You shall see me lifted up upon a tree.

Composer: Dan Schutte

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

The Cross of Love II - May the Voice of Angel Chorus / Song of Farewell (Rufino Zarazoga)

In memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 15 April 2013




May the voice of angel chorus
lift your soul to God’s embrace.
May the martyrs come to welcome you
and saints prepare a place
where all sorrows and all burdens
melt before our Savior’s face,
who with love
did walk the Cross of Love.

May the Gentle Shepherd lead you
as you welcome Sister Death.
May the arms of Abraham
enfold your soul upon his breast.
In Jerusalem eternal,
holy city, holy rest;
you’ll find love, that walked the Cross of Love.

May the Lord bless and keep you
as your journey is complete.
May the face of God come shine on you,
God’s gracious light increase.
May the Holy One with kindness
look on you
and give you peace,  give you love,
to walk the Cross of Love.

See also alternate version: The Cross of Love - May the Lord bless and keep you (Rufino Zaragoza)

Text: Paraphrase of In Paradisum
Music: Rufino Zaragoza

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

The Cross of Love I - May the Lord bless and keep you / Ðường tình yêu (Rufino Zaragoza)

1. May the Lord bless and keep you
till your journey is complete.
May the face of God come shine on you;
God’s gracious light increase.
May the Holy One with kindness
look on you and give you peace, give you love,
to walk the Cross of Love.

2. May your heart hold creation,
all of nature do embrace.
May your pilgrimage on holy ground
awaken you to grace.
May the lowly and forgotten
show our Savior’s hidden face, found with love.
O walk the Cross of Love.

3. May your steps form a pathway
for the kingdom to appear.
May your course hold firm with constant truth
enduring doubt and fear.
May each sunrise find you eager
for the day’s an op’ning mirror of God’s love;
so walk the Cross of Love.

4. May the Lord bless and keep you
till your journey is complete.
May the face of God come shine on you;
God’s gracious light increase.
May the Holy One with kindness
look on you and give you peace, give you love,
to walk the Cross of Love.

See also alternate version: The Cross of Love - May the Voice of Angel Chorus / Song of Farewell (Rufino Zaragoza)

Composer: Rufino Zaragoza

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

It Is A Thing Most Wonderful (setting: John Ireland)

It is a thing most wonderful,
almost too wonderful to be,
that God's own Son should come from heaven,
and die to save a child like me.

And yet I know that it is true:
he chose a poor and humble lot,
and wept, and toiled, and mourned, and died,
for love of those who loved him not.

I sometimes think about the cross,
and shut my eyes, and try to see
the cruel nails and crown of thorns
and Jesus crucified for me.

But even could I see him die,
I could but see a little part
of that great love, which, like a fire,
is always burning in his heart.

And yet I want to love thee, Lord;
O light the flame within my heart,
and I will love thee more and more,
until I see thee as thou art.

Text: William Walsham How (1823-1897)
Music: John Ireland (1879-19620

Adoramus te Christe (Taizé)

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

The Servant King

From heaven you came, helpless babe,
Entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served, but to serve
And give your life, that we might live.

Refrain:

This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.

There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours,' he said. (Refrain)

Come see His hands and his feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered. (Refrain)

So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving. (Refrain)

Composer: Graham Kendrick (1983)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) series.

Crucem Tuam (Taizé)

Crucem tuam adoramus Domine,
resurrectionem tuam laudamus Domine.
Laudamus et glorificamus.
Resurrectionem tuam laudamus Domine.

Music: Jacques Berthier (English bio) (French bio)

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

There Is A Green Hill Far Away (England)

There is a green hill far away
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains He had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiv'n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heav'n
Saved by His precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin.
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n, and let us in.

5. O, dearly, dearly has He loved,
And we must love Him too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.

Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1848)
Tune: HORSLEY CM, by William Horsley (1774-1858)

He Never Said A Mumbalin' Word (USA)

They crucified my Lord
And he never said a mumbalin word
They crucified my Lord.
And he never said a mumbalin' word
Not a word, not a word, not a word.

They nailed him to a tree

They pierced him in the side

The blood came trickalin' down

He bowed his head and died

Traditional African American Spiritual

Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary. (Refrain)

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me. (Refrain)

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share. (Refrain)

Historical Information (Wikipedia)

Composer: George Bennard (1913)

Stabat Mater Dolorosa

PLAINCHANT:




POLYPHONY (PALESTRINA):

Stabat mater dolorosa
juxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.

Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!

Quae moerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.

Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Juxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.

Historical Information (Wikipedia)

Text: Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306)

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross (USA)

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary's mountain.

Refrain:

In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me. (Refrain)

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o'er me. (Refrain)

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river. (Refrain)

Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
Music: NEAR THE CROSS, 76.76+Refrain William H. Doane, 1832-1915

Vexilla Regis Prodeunt

Vexilla Regis prodeunt;
Fulget Crucis mysterium,
Quo carne carnis conditor
Suspensus est patibulo.

Confixa clavis viscera
Tendens manus, vestigia,
Redemptionis gratia
Hic immolata est Hostia.

Quo vulneratus insuper
Mucrone diro lanceae,
Ut nos lavaret crimine,
Manavit unda et sanguine.

Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine,
Dicendo nationibus:
Regnavit a ligno Deus.

Arbor decora et fulgida,
Ornata Regis purpura,
Electa digno stipite
Tam sancta membra tangere.

Beata, cuius brachiis
Pretium pependit saeculi:
Statera facta corporis,
Praedam tulitque tartari.

Fundis aroma cortice,
Vincis sapore nectare,
Iucunda fructu fertili
Plaudis triumpho nobili.

Salve, ara, salve, victima,
De passionis gloria,
Qua vita mortem pertulit
Et morte vitam reddidit.

O Crux ave, spes unica,
Hoc Passionis tempore!
Piis adauge gratiam,
Reisque dele crimina.

Te, fons salutis Trinitas,
Collaudet omnis spiritus:
Quos per Crucis mysterium
Salvas, fove per saecula. Amen.

Background Historical Information (Wikipedia)

Composer: Venantius Fortunatus (c. 530-c. 600/609)

See my other blog postings in the plainchant series.

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? (USA)

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?

Traditional African American Spiritual

Beneath the Cross of Jesus (Scotland)

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I gladly take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.

Text: Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1872
Tune: Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER, 76.86.86.86 ( Frederick C. Maker, 1881)

At the Cross (Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?)

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His soul in anguish stood. (Refrain)

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree! (Refrain)

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin. (Refrain)

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears. (Refrain)

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do. (Refrain)

Words: verses: Isaac Watts (1707), refrain: Ralph E. Hudson (1885)
Music: HUDSON CM + Refrain, Ralph E. Hudson (1885)

Lift High The Cross

Refrain:

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. (Refrain)

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died. (Refrain)

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee. (Refrain)

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory. (Refrain)

Paraphrase of 1 Cor 1:18

Words: George W. Kitchin (1827-1912) and Michael R. Newbolt (1874-1956)
Music: CRUCIFER 10.10 + refrain, by Sydney H. Nicholson (1875-1947)