That Eastertide with joy was bright (Tune: PUER NOBIS)

1. That Easter day with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
Th'apostles saw their risen Lord.


2. His risen flesh with radiance glowed,
his wounded hands and feet he sowed;
those scars their solemn witness gave
that Christ was risen from the grave.


3. O Jesus, King of gentleness,
Do all our inmost hearts possess
That we may give thee all our days
The willing tribute of our praise.


4 O Lord of all, with us abide
In this our joyful Eastertide.
From every weapon death can wield,
Thine own redeemed forever shield.

Text: Au­ro­ra lu­cis ru­ti­lat (5th c); trans­. John Mason Neale (1851), alt.
Tune: PUER NOBIS,15th c., adapted by Michael Praetorius

He is Risen, He is Risen! (Tune: UNSER HERRSCHER)

He is risen, he is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice:
he has burst his three days' prison;
let the whole wide earth rejoice:
death is conquered, man is free,
Christ has won the victory.

Come, ye sad and fearful-hearted,
with glad smile and radiant brow!
Lent's long shadows have departed;
Jesus' woes are over now,
and the passion that he bore--
sin and pain can vex no more.

Come, with high and holy hymning,
hail our Lord's triumphant day;
not one darksome cloud is dimming
yonder glorious morning ray,
breaking o'er the purple east,
symbol of our Easter feast.

He is risen, he is risen!
He hath opened heaven's gate:
we are free from sin's dark prison,
risen to a holier state;
and a brighter Easter beam
on our longing eyes shall stream.

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander (1846)
Tune: UNSER HERRSCHER 87.87.77

Hymn of Promise (Natalie Sleeth)

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Composer: Natalie Sleeth (1986)

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

Heavens sing with gladness (Taizé)

See also the original Latin version: Jubilate Coeli (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

Exsultet (Liam Lawton)

1. Now to the throne of God in exultation,
High heaven’s hosts, your proud hosannas sing!
Sound in the height the trumpet of salvation,
Waking the day to greet its Lord and King!

Refrain:

Rejoice, rejoice,
Gone forever is the night!
Rejoice, rejoice,
Risen is the Lord of light!

2. Now let the earth be filled with songs of gladness!
Christ is our Dawn, and banished is our night!
Now let all tongues acclaim the King of ages,
Rising as Lord of everlasting life!

3.Sing in your joy, O holy Church, our Mother:
Darkest of nights becomes your day of days!
Now, in the dawn of never ending glory,
Bring to your Lord the homage of your praise!

4. Bless with your love this feast of light, O Father!
Shine on the world, O world’s true Light, God’s Son!
Touch with your fire, O God the Holy Spirit,
Tongues to proclaim the triumph Christ has won!

Composer: Liam Lawton (2001)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Water of Life (David Haas)

Chorus

Water of Life, Jesus our Light,
Journey from death to new life.

1. Fountain of light, new sight for the blind.
We come to the water, we come now to see.

2. Fountain of compassion, freedom from fear.
We come to the water, we come to find peace.

3.Fountain of mercy, bind all our wounds.
We come to the water, we come to be healed.

4. Fountain of our future, seek out our pain.
We come to the water, we come to be whole.

5. Fountain of new life, seek out our thirst.
We come to the water, we come now to live.

6. Fountain of mission, calling our name.
We come to water, we come now to serve.

Composer: David Haas (1987)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

And I saw a new heaven (Edgar Bainton)

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











And I saw a new heaven and a new earth
For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away
and there was no more sea, And I John saw the holy city,
Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying,
Behold the tabernacle of God is with men
and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them and be their God
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying
neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.

Text: Revelation 21:1-4
Music: Edgar Bainton (1880-1956)

Pourquoi chercher parmi les morts (Taizé)

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

Je suis resuscité, alléluia (Taizé)

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

By Your Kingly Power

Refrain:

By your kingly power O risen Lord.
All that Adam lost is now restored:
In your resurrection be adored.

1. Sing the joyful Easter cry,
Sound it to the souls in prison,
Shout our triumph to the sky:
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen. 

2. Sing the joyful Easter cry,
Let all times and peoples listen:
Death has no more victory,
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen. 

3. Death has lost and life has won;
Ev’ry newborn soul we christen
Now becomes the Father’s son:
Sing Christ risen, sing Christ risen

Words: James McAuley (1917-1976)
Tune: RUGGIERO, by Richard Connolly (b. 1927) 

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

キリストよみがえりぬ (テゼ / Taizé)

See also the original (Latin) version: Surrexit Christus (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

基督已復活 (泰澤 / Taizé)

基督已復活

啊... 基 督 已 復 活， Alleluia.
o... gei1 duk1 ji5 fuk6 wut6, alleluia.
(O, Surrexit Christus, Allleluia!)

啊.... 來 歌 頌 讚 美 主 ， Alleluia!
o... loi4 go1 zung6 zaan3 mei5 zyu2, alleluia.
(O... Cantate Domino, Alleluia!)

Verses: Daniel/但以理書/達尼爾先知書 3; Psalm/詩篇/聖詠 118

See original version: Surrexit Christus

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

O Christ, le Fils du Dieu vivant (Taizé)

O Christ, le Fils du Dieu vivant. 
Alleluia Alleluia!

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

Behold the Glory of God (Roc O'Connor)

Refrain

Behold the glory of God,
the Day-Star arising!
Christ Jesus shines on the earth
with mercy enduring!

1. Night of hope, night of glory divine–
Darkness conquered evermore.
Christ triumphant shines on the earth
With joy that endures.

2. Dance for joy all you angels of God,
Let the pow'rs of heav'n exult.
All creation, join now in song:
"Salvation is won!"

3. Let the earth in its beauty rejoice,
Radiant as the morning sky.
Chains of death lie shattered this night–
Christ's vict'ry complete!

4. Robed about in the light of the day,
Let the Church take up its praise.
Sacred walls resound with the voice
Of God's holy ones.

5. Blessed was the first fall from your grace,
Blessed was the fateful sin.
Blessed more the *blood of the Cross:
Our God set us free.

6. O how wondrous the gift of your love,
Tender gift on our behalf:
To redeem a slave lowly born
You gave us the Christ.

7. O my God, you are worthy indeed
To receive our grateful song.
We acclaim the deeds of your hand:
"Praise God evermore!"

8. God delivered our life from the snare
With a strong and mighty hand;
Set us free from all of our foes
To worship The Name.

9. Through the fire and the water you led
With the darkness round about.
Death was near; the snare was released;
Our God set us free!

10. Lift your hands, off'ring thanks unto God,
Raise a hymn of endless praise:
Blessed be the Lord of our lives,
Whose mercy endures.

11. With a shout, water fled from the sea,
Paths were opened by your Word.
Far beyond our thoughts or desires,
Your mercy is sure!

12. O remember your promise, O God;
Let your mercy still remain:
Save your people who cry out to you,
"O God, set us free!"

Composer: Roc O'Connor (1990)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Souviens-toi de Jésus Christ (Taizé)

Souviens-toi de Jésus Christ
Ressuscite d’entre les morts
Il est notre salut,
Notre gloire éternelle
Si nous mourons avec lui,
Avec lui nous vivons
Si nous souffrons avec lui,
Avec lui nous règnerons
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

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

Probudi se (Taizé)

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

Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (Marty Haugen)

Tree of life and awesome mystery,
In your death we are reborn,
Though you die in all of history,
still you rise with every morn,
Still you rise with every morn.

Seed that dies to rise in glory,
May we see ourselves in you,
If we learn to live your story,
We may die to rise anew,
we may die to rise anew.

We remember truth one spoken,
love passed on through act and word,
Every person, lost and broken
wears the body of our Lord,
wears the body of our Lord.

Gentle Jesus, mighty Spirit,
come inflame our hearts anew,
We may all your joy inherit,
if we bear the cross with you,
if we bear the cross with you.

Christ you lead and we shall follow,
stumbling though our steps may be,
One with you in joy and sorrow,
we the river you the sea,
we the river you the sea


Composer: Marty Haugen (1984)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Surrexit Dominus vere (Taizé)

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

Join in the Dance (Dan Shutte)

Refrain
Join in the dance of the earth's jubilation!
This is the feast of the love of God.
Shout from the heights to the ends of creation:
Jesus the Savior is risen from the grave!

1. Wake, O people; sleep no longer:
greet the breaking day!
Christ, Redeemer, Lamb and Lion,
turns the night away! (Refrain)

2. All creation, like a mother,
labors to give birth.
Soon the pain will be forgotten,
joy for all the earth! (Refrain)

3. Now our shame becomes our glory
on this holy tree.
Now the reign of death is ended;
now we are set free! (Refrain)

4. None on earth, no prince or power,
neither death nor life,
nothing now can ever part us
from the love of Christ! (Refrain)

5. Love's triumphant day of vict'ry
heaven opens wide.
On the tree of hope and glory
death itself has died! (Refrain)

6. Christ forever, Lord of ages,
Love beyond our dreams:
Christ, our hope of heaven's glory,
all that yet will be! (Refrain)

Composer: Dan Schutte (b. 1947)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

This is a Day of New Beginnings

1) This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that's gone.

2) For by the life and death of Jesus,
God's mighty spirit, now as then,
Can make for us a world of difference,
as faith and hope are born again.

3) Then let us, with the spirit's daring,
step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

4) Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings,
our God is making all things new.

5) In faith we'll gather 'round the table
to taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings,
our God is making all things new.


Text: Brian Wren, 1978, 1983 
Tune: BEGINNINGS, by Carlton R. Young, 1987