Church Music

This is not an Australian song.

This is the hymn for the Jubilee Year 2025 on the theme of hope.

The original text is by Pierangelo Sequeri and the English translation is by Andrew Wadsworth. The music is by Maestro Francesco Meneghello.

It doesn’t sound like a song to sing in a suburban or country parish and may not be inculturated for Australian parishes. Maybe we should have written one for ourselves.

I made a backing but I don’t think I got the “with confidence” instructions. The tune strikes me as a mournful theme from a sad part of a movie scored by Henry Mancini – btw I love Mancini.

The sheet music is here in a sensible key – and here in a less sensible key. The SATB is here and it may be best as a choir vehicle. Thank you New Zealand for making them easy to find.

Refrain

Like a flame my hope is burning,

may my song arise to you:

Source of life that has no ending,

on life’s path I trust in you.

1 Ev’ry nation, tongue, and people

find a light within your Word.

Scattered fragile sons and daughters

find a home in your dear Son.

Refrain

2 God, so tender and so patient,

dawn of hope, you care for all.

Heav’n and earth are recreated

by the Spirit of Life set free.

Refrain

3 Raise your eyes, the wind is blowing,

for our God is born in time.

Son made man for you and many

who will find the way in him.

The Vatican site gives the song in many languages, both to listen to and with sheet music.

It sounds good in Italian.

So so in English:

… also better in Nepalese:

This is better than all of them:

This is a useful singalong karoake version:

Searching for Australian Catholic music turns up some material from far afield.

This is the Diocesan hymn from the Catholic Diocese of Townsville, written by Sister Judy Foster.

The sheet music is available from the diocese, and you can hear their version here.

I added some BIAB percussion to my backing:

Journey with us, Jesus, as we move into our future;
open up our hearts to hear your Word;
Surround us with your Spirit and your presence deep within:
Becoming new, becoming new in You.

May we welcome one another with respect and warmth and love.
May we see Your face in each and every one.
May we change our way of being without stubbornness of heart,
so we are the message ‘all belong’.

Journey with us, Jesus, as we move into our future;
open up our hearts to hear your Word;
Surround us with your Spirit and your presence deep within:
Becoming new, becoming new in You.

May your mother, Mary, Help of Christians guide our vision,
with the witness of the saints who’ve gone before,
so all our work gives glory to the Trinity of love,
the source of joy and energy and life.

© Sr Judy Foster sgs

There are a couple of extra verses as well there :

May we turn and seek your presence when our doubts block out your face,

So your touch leads us to trusting all you are

May our faith grow stronger daily, in our work and in our prayer,

So our voices all say ‘I believe’.

May we let the Spirit’s wind rush through the centre of our being

So we let go fear, allowing grace to flow

With the power given to us when we gather as your church

As we walk the pathway to ‘become’.

This is Stephen Kirk‘s setting of Psalm 50/51. The sheet music is at his site. It could be used a general Lenten hymn.

I expect I’ll hear some more of his songs at his workshop in a couple of weeks at Hobart.

Refrain

Create in me a clean heart, create in me a clean heart.

Create in me a clean heart, put a steadfast spirit within me.

1 Have mercy on me God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

And cleanse me from my sin.

Refrain

2 My offences truly, I know them;

My sin is always before me.

Against you, you alone have I sinned;

What is evil in your eyes I have done.

Refrain

3 For in sacrifice you take no delight,

Burnt offering from me you would refuse,

My sacrifice a contrite spirit.

A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

Refrain.

This is another song for Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday from Stephen Kirk.

The sheet music is at his site under resources.

My backing is a little faster than he recommends I believe, but I couldn’t sing it slower.

1 Come behold the Lamb of God sacrificed.

Come behold the Lamb of God glorified.

Come and behold him, come and adore

Jesus the lamb who takes all the sin of the world.

2 Come behold the Lamb of God, love poured out.

Come behold the Word of God silent now.

Come and behold him, come and adore

Jesus the lamb who takes all the sin of the world.

3 Come behold the mercy poured from on high.

Come behold the light that conquers the night.

Come and behold him, come and adore

Jesus the lamb who takes all the sin of the world.

4 Come behold the Son of God crucidied.

Come behold the Word of God glorified.

Come and behold him, come and adore

Jesus the lamb who takes all the sin of the world.

© 2017 Stephen Kirk

He has extra verses there that transform this into a song for Eucharist.

This Stephen Kirk song is his take on Crux fidelis.

His music and translation is at his site.

My backing does it no favours but will give you the idea. I switched on BIABs fake organ and increased the tempo from 65 to 80.

He has set it SATB, so I’d like to hear it done at 65, unaccompanied, in four parts – I’m sure that would work if your choir is up to it on Good Friday.

The free to download songs at Stephen Kirk’s website, are mostly Psalms and Easter songs, and are under the “Resources” tab.

This is one of his Good Friday songs and would be lovely for veneration. It is quite singable.

Come to the Holy Cross.

See his love poured out for us.

See the wounds that heal our sin and kneel before the King of Kings.

We behold you Jesus; friend of sinners, Saviour, Lord.

We adore you Jesus.

For by your cross you free us all, and by your cross you save the world.

Rpt all

Come to the Holy Cross.

See his love poured out for us.

See the wounds that heal our sin and kneel before the King of Kings.

© 2008 Stephen Kirk

This is a song by Stephen Kirk for Holy Thursday. It is another lovely song, but your cantor will need a fair old range to cope, especially in the third stanza. The assembly should be fine singing the refrain.

You will find the sheet music under “Resources” at his website.

Refrain

Do you understand what I’ve done to you?

Do you understand what I’ve done to you?

1 You call me master and Lord, and rightly; so I am.

If I then, The Lord and Master have washed your feet,

You should wash each others.

Refrain

2 I give you a new command, that you love one another

As I have loved you; By this everyone will know

You are my disciples.

Refrain

3 At the moment you don’t know what I’m doing,

But later you will understand.

I have given you and example so you may do as I have done.

Refrain

Will you do to all as I’ve done to you?

Will you do to all as I’ve done to you?

© 2015 Stephen Kirk

Stephen Kirk, a Catholic musician from Canberra, is coming to Tasmania in November and barring unforeseen circumstances I hope to attend his workshop. I have not heard of him, but his site shows years of activity.

He has lots of music there to purchase, but under the resources tab there are some of his songs to look at for free. You have to register to do this.

This is his setting of Psalm 115, and it is rather nice. Your cantor will need to hit a held high E.

Response

Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ. x2

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds.

Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make: I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill before all his people.

Our blessing cup is a communion with the blood of Christ. x2

© 2013 Stephen Kirk

This is another song from Adelaide, by Peter and Lauren Bierer. While written for the 2022 Diocesan Assembly it has a use as a gathering song or for Pentecost.

I didn’t get fooled into Dm7 chords this time. The sheet music is here.

Refrain

Come, sisters and brothers,

Come let us journey together.

Side by side on the way of life,

Come let us go together on the way.

1 There is a place for you and for me,

Sinners and saints, the slave and the free.

Come as you are, Woman and man,

Child of God, beloved of God.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

We have been born anew in the light,

Baptised in water filled with the fire.

Come take your place and let your voice sing,

Daughters and sons, priests, prophets and kings.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Refrain

2 We have been called to light up the world,

To share the good news and to bind up all wounds.

Let all our sad divisions now cease, 

May we become a people of peace.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine.

If we truly listen, we might just find

The unfolding tale of God’s love in our lives,

The way we must go to be the Body of Christ.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Refrain

Bridge

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Show us the way (4x)

Refrain

© 2022 Secret Hill Music

I was at a small songwriter’s workshop last weekend arranged by Monica O’Brien and I am still decompressing a little.

I met some wonderful talented songwriters and was inspired by what they are all up to. Peter and Lauren Bierer from Adelaide were there, and they have a couple of great songs posted by the Adelaide Archdiocese.

This one was a sung prayer for communal discernment and action leading up to the Plenary, but has obvious uses beyond that.

I thought he was trying to unsettle us – and we really do need some unsettling, but I was just playing Dm7 instead of Dmaj7 chords.

In the clip you can see how it was used under spoken prayer.

This is a link to the sheet music.

That said it is wicked with Dm7 substituted.

1 Come Holy Spirit come!

Prepare our hearts.

Prepare our minds.

Make us ready Lord.

2 Come Holy Spirit come!

Prepare our eyes.

Prepare our ears.

Make us ready Lord.

3 Come Holy Spirit come!

Prepare our mouths.

Prepare our feet.

Make us ready Lord.

4 Come Holy Spirit come!

Prepare our hands.

Prepare our community.

Make us ready, make us ready, makes us ready, Lord.

© 2022 Secret Hill Music