Emma’s parish sing this very early Dan Schutte song that is a new one for me that is really quite lovely. The text is based on passages from Matthew’s and John’s Gospels and can be found at Schutte’s site. (No 13)
The sheet music can be purchased for download at OCP.
It’s great to see selections from other parishes around the world to see what other possibilities there are, or sometimes to see we all went for much the same thing. I keep trying to find songs from Mary’s parish in Ireland but the Gaelic selections defeat me.
I managed to restrain myself this time and made a more sensible backing from which to learn:
The original I believe:
Pretty but a little OTT (and is that the Grim Reaper in the picture?):
Via Christi Choir:
This was the hymn I selected for the introit or opening hymn on my wedding day, July 6th 1985. Our priest, father Elliott forbade having the bride walk down the aisle to the altar with her parent, as he stated in no uncertain terms, this practice is considered Pagan in the Roman Catholic church. I had sung this hymn in the church prior to my wedding and I always thought it was not only moving, but actually perfect for a Nuptial Mass. The congregants, Father Elliott and my husband and myself sang the hymn as we walked down the aisle to the altar. It was very moving and mystical in a sense, and completely appropriate I thought, for a wedding, a journey which was about to begin. It will always be endearing to me. Perfect for introit music (hymn) at the beginning of a Nuptial Mass because of its spiritual meaning.
Elaine
Thankyou for your lovely contribution.
My snarky side would suggest to your then priest that if you stripped out all the pagan influences from Roman Catholicism there wouldn’t be a lot left.
We didn’t get a nuptual mass when we married in the eighties, and I was the problem. Having been baptised Catholic and confirmed Presbyterian and left both, I suspect the priest saw me as a flight risk and got special dispensation in all directions but no mass.
Thanks again
Geoff