God Beyond All Names (Bernadette Farrell)

1. God, beyond our dreams,
you have stirred in us a memory,
you have placed your powerful spirit
in the hearts of humankind.

Refrain:

All around us, we have known you;
all creation lives to hold you,
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.

2. God, beyond all names,
you have made us in your image,
we are like you, we reflect you,
we are woman, we are man. (Refrain)

3. God, beyond all words,
all creation tells your story,
you have shaken with our laughter,
you have trembled with our tears. (Refrain)

4. God, beyond all time,
you are labouring within us;
we are moving, we are changing,
in your spirit ever new. (Refrain)

5. God of tender care,
you have cradled us in goodness,
you have mothered us in wholeness,
you have loved us into birth. (Refrain)

Composer: Bernadette Farrell 

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

This is my song, O God of all the nations (Tune: FINLANDIA)

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

1. This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

2. My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.

3. This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations;
Myself I give thee, let thy will be done.

Text: vv. 1-2 Lloyd Stone (1912-1993), v.3 Georgia Harkness (1939)
Tune: FINLANDIA 11 10. 11 10. 11 10, by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

God of Our Fathers

In celebration of Independence Day, 4th July 2013

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
leads forth in beauty all the starry band
of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
our grateful songs before thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
in this free land by thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
thy true religion in our hearts increase,
thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

Words: Daniel Crane Roberts (1876)
Tune: NATIONAL HYMN 10.10.10.10

Behold, O God, Our Defender (Herbert Howells)

This introit was originally commissioned for the coronation of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

Composer: Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Children of the Heavenly Father

1. Children of the heavenly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

2. God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

3. Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

4. Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

5. Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

6. Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

Text: Caroline V. Sandell-Berg (1832-1903), tr. Ernst W. Olson (1870-1958)
Tune: TRYGGARE KAN INGEN VARA, LM (Swedish melody)

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
'Tis an ocean full of blessing, 'tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

Background information

Text: Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925)
Tune: EBENEZER (Llaw lyfr Mo­li­ant, 1890)

The Lord is my Light (John Foley)

Refrain:

The Lord is my light the Lord is my shield,
Praise the Lord and the love He reveals:
Safe journey shelter and home,
Safe in the Lord alone!

1. Hear O Lord my cry to You.
Turn not away for You are my light,
Turn not Your face from me.

2. Seek Your face You said O Lord:
My Heart says to You,
Your face Lord I seek.
Hide not your face from me.

3. Wait for the Lord
and let your heart be strong.
Wait for the Lord!


Composer: John Foley

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Thượng Tiến Giavê (Nguyễn Quang Hưng)

ÐK: 

Thượng tiến lên Giavê bánh rượu này tinh tuyền. 
Thượng tiến lên Giavê trót cả cuộc sống này. 
Xin dâng lên Ba Ngôi của lễ rất đẹp lòng Cha, 
như sương sớm chan hòa tràn lan trên khắp nương đồng. 
Như trầm hương thơm tho bay lên thánh điện huyền linh.
Xin thương đoái nhận của lễ, xin ban xuống ơn an bình.

1. Xin hợp nhất chúng con trong tình yêu Thiên Chúa.
Xin hợp nhất chúng con muôn người cùng mến thương nhau.
Như một tấm bánh này bởi ngàn hạt lúa mì.
Như rượu rất tinh nguyên bởi ngàn nho chín thơm.

2. Xin tình yêu Chúa Trời lan tràn khắp thế giới.
Xin nguồn sống Thánh Linh hộ phù trợ giúp thi ân.
Tin một Chúa cao vời tình yêu xóa lấp oán thù.
Vui cùng kẻ hân hoan, buồn cùng ai khóc than.

3. Chúc tụng Ngôi Chúa Trời, Ðấng dựng nên thế giới.
Chúc tụng Ngôi Chúa Con Ðấng chuộc tội cứu sinh linh.
Chúc tụng Chúa Thánh Thần hằng thương thánh hóa linh hồn.
Như từ trước thiên thu, giờ đây cho tới mai sau.

 4. Ðêm hồng phúc phước đầy, Ngôi Lời đã giáng thế.
Ðêm hạnh phúc chứa chan, Chúa Trời đã xuống dương gian.
Xin cùng kính dâng Ngài lời ca dâng với hương trầm.
Xin cùng kính dâng lên Hài Nhi Ðấng Cứu Tinh.

5. Cho tình yêu chúng con vững bền trong Thiên Chúa.
Cho cuộc sống thế gian có Ngài trợ giúp ban ơn.
Cho tình mến không nhòa cùng nhau xây đắp gia đình.
Cho cuộc sống ly hương được Ngài nâng đỡ luôn.

Sáng tác: Nguyễn Quang Hưng

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Evening Hymn (Henry Balfour Gardiner)

Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut pro tua clementia,
Sis praesul et custodia.

Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata:
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.

Praesta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Regnans per omne saeculum.

To thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with thy wonted favour, thou
Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Historical Background

Text: Latin, 8th-9th century
Music: Henry Balfour Gardiner (1877-1950)

Saviour, Again To Thy Dear Name We Raise

Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise
with one accord our parting hymn of praise;
we stand to bless thee ere our worship cease;
then, lowly kneeling, wait thy word of peace.

Grant us thy peace upon our homeward way;
with thee began, with thee shall end the day.
guard thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,
that in this house have called upon thy Name.

Grant us thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;
turn thou for us its darkness into light;
from harm and danger keep thy children free,
for dark and light are both alike to thee.

Grant us thy peace throughout our earthly life;
peace to thy church from error and from strife;
peace to our land, the fruit of truth and love;
peace in each heart, thy Spirit from above.

Thy peace in life, the balm of every pain;
thy peace in death, the hope to rise again;
then, when thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
call us, O Lord, to thine eternal peace.

Text: John Ellerton (1866)
Tune: ELLERS 10.10.10.10

We Gather Together

We gather together
to ask the Lord's blessing;
he chastens and hastens
his will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to his name,
he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
his kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
thou, Lord, wast at our side,
all glory be thine!

We all do extol thee,
thou leader triumphant,
and pray that thou still
our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation
escape tribulation;
thy name be ever praised!
O Lord, make us free!

Text: Nederlandtsch Gedencklanck, 1626 trans. by Theodore Baker, 1894
Tune: KREMSER, irr., 16th century Dutch melody

God Will Take Care Of You

Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you,
through every day, o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. (Refrain)

All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you. (Refrain)

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. (Refrain)

Text: Civilla D. Martin (1904)
Music: W. Stillman Martin (1905)

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.

Be Not Afraid (Bob Dufford)

You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand.
You shall see the face of God and live.

Refrain:

Be not afraid.
I go before you always.
Come follow me, and
I will give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning flames, you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the pow'r of hell and death is at your side, know that
I am with you through it all. (Refrain)

Blessed are your poor, for the kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn, for one day you shall laugh.
And if wicked men insult and hate you all because of me, blessed, blessed are you! (Refrain)

Composer: Bob Dufford (1943)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Tu mecum es (Taizé)

Tu mecum es.
Non timebo mala.
Misericordia tua subsequitur me
omnibus diebus vitae meae.

You are with me. I fear no evil.
Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

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