Adventure in God (John Michael Talbot)

That I might take my prey
Of this adventure in God
I had to fly so high
That I was lost from all sight

And through this adventure
I faltered in my flight
Yet Love had already flown so high
That I took my prey

When I ascended higher
My vision was dazzled
The most difficult conquest
Was achieved in this darkness

But since it was Love I was seeking
The leap that I made was blind
Yet Love had already flown so high
That I took my prey

The higher I ascended
In this so lofty seeking
The lower and more subdued
and abased I became

In a way so wonderful
My one flight past a thousand
For the hope of heaven's glory
Will always attain.

And this my only seeking
I have not been disappointed
For Love had already flown so high
That I took my prey

That I might take my prey
Of this adventure in God

Composer: John Michael Talbot (b. 1954)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

A Voice Cries Out (Michael Joncas)

Console my people, the ones dear to me
Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
The time of your mourning is ended now
the Lord of life will come

Refrain:

A voice cries out in the wilderness prepare a way for the Lord
A voice cries out in the wilderness make straight a highway for God

Every valley is made a plain every mountain is leveled
The glory of God shall be revealed and nations will sing your praise (Refrain)

A voice shouts 'cry', O what shall I cry ? All flesh is like grass and its flowers
The grass may wither the flowers may fade but the word of the lord is forever (Refrain)

Zion shout from the mountain top lift up your voice O Jerusalem
And say to the people of Gods own land behold behold your God (Refrain)

The lord will appear as a shepherd holding his lamb in his arms
Keeping his flock so close to his heart leading them all old and young (Refrain)

Composer: Michael Joncas

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

Ô toi l'au-delà de tout (Taizé)

Ô toi l'au-delà de tout,
quel esprit peut te saisir?
Tous les êtres te célèbrent;
le désir de tous aspire vers toi.


You who are beyond all things, 
what mind can grasp you?
All that lives celebrates you; 
the desire of all reaches out to you. 

Text: Gregory of Nazianzus

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

Jesu, Lover of My Soul

Jesu, Lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high:
hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life be past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed;
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
mor than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy Name;
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee:
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

Text: Charles Wesley (1740)
TUNE: ABERYSTWYTH, 77.77.77.77

God Of Day And God Of Darkness (Marty Haugen)

VIDEO: Link to YouTube video







God of day and God of darkness,
now we stand before the night.
As the shadows stretch and deepen,
come and make our darkness bright.
All creation still is groaning
for the dawning of your might.
When the Sun of peace and justice
fills the earth with radiant light.

Still the nations curse the darkness,
still the rich oppress the poor.
Still the earth is bruised and broken
by the ones who still want more.
Come and wake us from our sleeping,
so our hearts cannot ignore
all your people lost and broken,
all your children at our door.

Show us Christ in one another.
Make us servants strong and true.
Give us all your love of justice,
so we do what you would do.
Let us call all people holy.
Let us pledge our lives anew.
Make us one with all the lowly.
Let us all be one in you.

You shall be the path that guides us;
you the light that in us burns.
Shining deep within all people,
yours the love that we must learn.
For our hearts shall wander restless
'til they safe to you return.
Finding you in one another,
we shall all your face discern.

Text: Marty Haugen (1985)
Tune: BEACH SPRING 87.87D (Sacred Harp, 1844)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

Peace be to you and grace from Him
Who freed us from our sin
Who loved us all,
and shed his blood
That we might saved be.

Sing holy, holy to our Lord
The Lord almighty God
Who was and is,
and is to come
Sing holy, holy Lord.

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below
For Christ is coming,
Is coming soon
For Christ is coming soon.

E'en so Lord Jesus quickly come
And night shall be no more
They need no light,
no lamp, nor sun
For Christ will be their All!

Composer: Paul Manz (1919-2009)

Only This I Want (Dan Schutte)

Refrain:

Only this I want:
but to know the Lord,
and to bear his cross
so to wear the crown he wore.

All but this is loss,
worthless refuse to me,
for to gain the Lord
is to gain all I need. (Refrain)

I will run the race;
I will fight the good fight,
so to win the prize
of the Kingdom of my Lord. (Refrain)

Let your heart be glad,
always glad in the Lord,
so to shine like stars
in the darkness of the night. (Refrain)

Composer: Dan Schutte (1981)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Save Us, O Lord (Bob Dufford)

Refrain:

Save us, O Lord; carry us back.
Rouse your power and come.
Rescue your people; show us your face.
Bring us back.

O Shepherd of Israel, hear us.
Return and we shall be saved.
Arise, O Lord;
hear our cries, O Lord:
bring us back! (Refrain)

How long will you hide from your people?
We long to see your face.
Give ear to us.
Draw near to us.
Lord God of hosts! (Refrain)

Turn again; care for your vine;
protect what your right hand has planted.
Your vineyards are trampled,
uprooted, and burned.
Come to us, Father of might! (Refrain)

Paraphrase of Psalm 80

Composer: Bob Dufford (1981)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.