Psalm 137 (Taizé)

Je chanterai le Seigneur,
en présence des anges

De tout mon coeur, Seigneur, je te rends grâce :
tu as entendu les paroles de ma bouche.
Je te chante en présence des anges,
vers ton temple sacré, je me prosterne.

Je rends grâce à ton nom pour ton amour et ta vérité,
car tu élèves, au-dessus de tout, ton nom et ta parole.
Le jour où tu répondis à mon appel,
tu fis grandir en mon âme la force.

Tous les rois de la terre te rendent grâce
quand ils entendent les paroles de ta bouche.
Ils chantent les chemins du Seigneur :
« Qu'elle est grande, la gloire du Seigneur ! »

Si haut que soit le Seigneur,
il voit le plus humble ;
de loin, il reconnaît l'orgueilleux.
Si je marche au milieu des angoisses,
tu me fais vivre,
ta main s'abat sur mes ennemis en colère.

Ta droite me rend vainqueur.
Le Seigneur fait tout pour moi !
Seigneur, éternel est ton amour :
n'arrête pas l'oeuvre de tes mains.

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

Christians Let Us Love One Another (Tune: PICARDY)

1. Christians let us love one another
as we share the true living bread
Jesus is our God and our brother;
with his flesh and blood we are fed.

Refrain:

Everyone who lives is born of God
Jesus is our life, God is love.

2. We who break this bread are one body,
we who share this cup are all one
Children of our Father in heaven,
we are heirs of God’s only Son. (Refrain)

3. We who eat and drink at this table
die and rise again with our Lord.
Drawing from our rock living water
giv’n to all who thirst for accord. (Refrain)

4. Wheat and grape incarnate a mystery;
Jesus is the true living bread
Let us eat with joy and thanksgiving,
trusting in the word he has said. (Refrain)

5. Jesus is the vine, we the branches;
we are grains of wheat, Christ the bread.
Those who eat this bread live forever,
one with Christ our Lord and our head. (Refrain)

Words: Armand Nigro & Cladia Foltz (1973)
Tune: PICARDY 98.98 + Refrain

Love is his word

1. Love is his word, Love is his way,
Feasting with kin, fasting alone,
Living and dying, rising again
Love only love is his way.

Refrain:

Richer than gold
Is the love of my Lord.
Better than splendour and wealth.

2. Love is his way, love is his mark,
Sharing his last Passover feast.
Christ at the table, host to the Twelve
Love, only love, is his mark.

3. Love is his mark, love is his sign,
Bread for our strength,
wine for our joy,
This is my body, this is my blood
Love, only love is his sign.

4. Love is his sign, love is his news,
Do this he said Lest you forget
All my deep sorrow, all my dear blood,
Love, only love, is his news.

5. Love is his news, Love is his name,
We are his own, chosen and called,
Family, brethren, cousins and kin.
Love, only love is his name.

6. Love is his name, love is his law,
Hear his command, all who are his,
Love one another, I have loved you
Love, only love, is his law.

7. Love is his law, Love is his word,
Love of the Lord, Father, and Word,
Love of the Spirit, God ever one,
Love, only love, is his word.

Text: Luke Connaughton (1917-1979)
Tune: CRESSWELL 8.8.9.7 + Refrain

O grâce magnifique (Taizé)

O grâce magnifique,
Dont Dieu seul est l'auteur:
Jésus, son Fils unique,
Est notre Rédempteur!
Etoile matinale
Qui n'a pas son égale
Dans tout le firmament!

O grâce mémorable
Qu'on adore à genoux:
Dieu même est favorable
Aux pécheurs tels que nous!
Au ciel et sur la terre,
Qui pourra nous soustraire
A l'éternel amour?

O grâce salutaire,
Ta force nous confond!
D'un aussi grand mystère,
Qui peut voir jusqu'au fond?
Grâce incompréhensible,
Lumière inaccessible,
Abîme de bonté!

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

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.

Unless a Grain of Wheat (Bernadette Farrell)

Refrain

Unless a grain of wheat shall fall
upon the ground and die,
It remains but a single grain with no life.

1. If we have died with him, then we shall live with him;
if we hold firm, we shall reign with him.

2. If any one serves me, then they must follow me;
wherever I am, my servants will be.

3. Make your home in me as I make mine in you;
those who remain in me bear much fruit.

4. If you remain in me and my word lives in you;
then you will be my disciples.

5. Those who love me are loved by my Father;
we shall be with them and dwell in them.

6. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you;
peace which the world can-not give is my gift.

Composer: Bernadette Farrell (1983)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Vem, Eu Mostrarei (Come, I will show)

Vem, e eu mostrarei que o meu caminho te leva ao pai
Guiarei os passos teus e junto a ti hei de seguir
Sim, eu irei e saberei como chegar ao fim
De onde vim, aonde vou, por onde irás, irei também

Vem, eu te direi o que ainda estás a procurar
A verdade é como o sol e invadirá teu coração
Sim, eu irei e aprenderei minha razão de ser
Eu creio em ti que crês em mim e a tua luz verei a luza

Vem, e eu te farei da minha vida participar
Viverás em mim aqui, viver em mim é o bem maior
Sim, eu irei e viverei a vida inteira assim
Eternidade é na verdade, o amor vivendo sempre em nós

Vem, que a terra espera quem possa e queira realizar
Com amor, a construção de um mundo novo muito melhor!
Sim, eu irei e levaria teu nome aos meus irmãos
Iremos nós e o teu amor vai construir enfim a paz!

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.  

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)

何處有仁 (泰澤 / Taizé)

《何處有仁》

何處有仁, 何處有愛;
何處有仁, 上主必常在。

See also the original Latin version: Ubi Caritas (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

Love Never Fails (David Haas)

1. If I speak with the tongues of the earth, if the angels fill my mouth,
yet do not have love, I am but a sound.
If I prophesy and understand all things, if mountains shake by my faith,
without love I am nothing at all.

Refrain:

Love is patient; love is kind. Love rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, it hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

2. If I give away everything I own, give my body to be burned,
yet do not have love, I gain nothing more. Prophecies will cease;
tongues will be silent. Knowledge will be no more, the partial pass away.

3. When I was a child, I talked, thought, and live like a child.
But now that I have grown, I have put these things aside.
My knowledge is imperfect now, then I'll know as I am known:
that faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these is love.

Composer: David Haas (2001)

 See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Yahweh, the Faithful one (Dan Schutte)

Refrain:
Yahweh's love will last forever,
His faithfulness till the end of time.
Yahweh is a loving God, Yahweh, the faithful one.

1. Have no fear for I am with you, I will be your shield.
Go now and leave your homeland.
For I will give your home (Refrain)

2. You shall be my chosen people and I will be your God.
I will bless your name forever and keep you from all harm. (Refrain)

3. Look up and see the heavens and count the stars if you can.
Your name will be even grearter, greater than all these stars. (Refrain)

Composer: Dan Schutte

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Love lifted me

1. I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain:

Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

2. All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

3. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

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

Deep calls to deep

I call upon You, Lord
My spirit longs to touch You
And I feel You calling me
So I draw near
I’m reaching out my hands
I need the kiss of Your Presence
And I feel You reach for me
So I draw near

I offer You my love, as You love me so freely
And I’m laying down my life as I draw near
You have brought me to this place by Your grace and your mercy
And I want to see Your face as I draw near

Deep calls to deep as Your glory surrounds me
Break through to my heart, O River of God
Deep calls to deep as I fall into worship
Flood my whole being with Yourself
Deep River of God

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

They'll know we are Christians

1. We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity
May one day be restored

Refrain:

And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, By our love
Yes, they'll know we are Christians
By our love

2. We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news
That God is in our land

3. We will work with each other
We will work side by side
We will work with each other
We will work side by side
And we'll guard each man's dignity
And save each man's pride

3. All praise to the Father
From whom all things come
And all praise to Christ Jesus His only son
And all praise to the Spirit
Who makes us one

Composer: Peter Scholtes (1966)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.   

One Dark Night (John Michael Talbot)

One dark night
Fired with love's urgent longings
Ah, the sheer grace
In the darkness
I went out unseen
My house being all now still

In the darkness
Secured by love's secret ladder
Disguised
Oh, the sheer grace
In the darkness
And in my concealment
My house being all now still

On that glad night
In the secret, for no one saw me
Nor did I see any other thing at all
With no other light to guide me
Than the light burning in my heart

And this light guided me
More surely than the light of the noon
To where he lay waiting for me
Waiting for me
Him I knew so well
In a place where no one else appeared

Oh guiding night
A light more lovely than the dawn
A night that has united
Ever now
The Lover now with his beloved
Transforming two now into one

Upon my flowering breast
There he lay sleeping
Which I kept for him alone
And I embraced him
And I caressed him
In a breeze blowing from the forest

And when this breeze blew in from the forest
Blowing back our hair
He wounded my soul
With his gentle hand
Suspending all my senses

I abandoned, forgetting myself
Laying my face on my Beloved
All things ceasing, I went out from myself
To leave cares
Forgotten with the lilies of the field

Composer: John Michael Talbot (b. 1954)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.    

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.  

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)

Bapa, Engkau Sungguh Baik [Father, You are so Good]

Bapa, engkau sungguh baik
Kasih Mu melimpah di hidupku
Bapa ku berterima kasih
Berkat Mu hari ini yang Kau sediakan bagiku

Ku naikkan syukur ku buat hari yang Kau b’ri
Tak habis-habisnya kasih dan rahmat Mu
Selalu baru dan tak pernah terlambat pertolongan Mu
Besar setia Mu di sepanjang hidupku

English translation:

Father, you are so good
Your love overflows in my life
Father, I give you thanks
Your blessings today that you have prepared for me

I raise my thankfulness this day that you have given
Inexhaustible is your love and mercy
Your help is ever now and never late
You are always faithful all through my life

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

I am the Good Shepherd (John Michael Talbot)

I am the Good Shepherd
You are My people
I am the Good Shepherd
And I call you by name
And I will lead you out
Into pastures of plenty
I am the good Shepherd
I am the Way

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

Composer: John Michael Talbot (b. 1954)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series. 

Ajarilah Kami, Tuhan, Bahasa Cinta Kasih [Teach us, Lord, the language of love]

1. Andaikan aku pahami bahasa semuanya,
Hanyalah bahasa cinta kunci setiap hati

Refrain: Ajarilah kami Tuhan, bahasa cinta kasih.

2. Andaikan aku lakukan yang luhur dan mulia.
Jika tanpa cinta kasih hampa dan tak berguna.

3. Andaikan aku dermakan segala harta miliki,
Hanya cintaku yang mampu membahagiakan orang.

4. Cinta itu lemah lembut, sabar dan murah hati,
tidak cari keuntungan, membahagiakan orang.

English translation:

1. If I were to understand all languages,
Only the language of love is the key to every heart.

Refrain: Teach us, Lord, the language of love

2. If I were to do all that is noble and glorious,
Without love it is empty and useless.

3. If I were to give away all that I own,
Only my love could bring happiness to people

4. Love is gentle, patient and generous
not looking for profit, brings happiness to people.

Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.