The Catholic Hymn Book

A Collection of Hymns, Anthems, Etc.

Edward Dunigan and Brother

• Publisher: Left of Brain Books
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN:
  9781396318993
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music

Musicians fulfill an important and necessary function in the sacred liturgy of the Catholic Church. This book contains a list of the best known hymns of the Catholic Church. They are meant to be used throughout the year rather than simply during holidays.The Vatican II Council Fathers stressed "active participation" of all the faithful during mass. What better way to be active in worship than to sing hymns with the choir? Unfortunately, after Vatican II, choirs nearly disappeared from the Catholic liturgy. But this book predates Vatican II, enabling readers to re-discover forgotten hymns that were once an integral part of mass every Sunday.For example, At the Cross Her Station Keeping (Stabat Mater) was once used on the Friday before Palm Sunday and on September 15 for the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary. It is rarely used in Catholic Church today, but Stabat Mater Dolorosa is considered one of the greatest Latin hymns of all time. Find this classic, and more besides, here.

Part I.

FATHER of highest majesty,

Remember all thy love,

That gave this wretched world thy Son

From thy bright throne above;

Down from the seat of Godhead sent

To this poor place of banishment!

 

Remember Jesus Christ, to Thee

Coequal though begot,

Took on Himself a servant’s form.

When born in lowly cot,

And Circumcision’s law of sin

Obey’d, our ruin’d souls to win!

 

Remember how, when He was born,

And on mean straw was laid,

From distant East the royal three

Him mystic honor paid;

And aged Simeon’s prophecy, —

His Mother’s sword when he should die!

 

Remember Herod, who his God

Like criminal pursued,

Sad mothers of their babes bereft

In day that Rama rued;

The anguish that his parents wrought

The hours their truant Son they sought.

 

Remember, Father meek, the thirst,

The hunger, cold, and heat,

That weigh’d upon his mortal Frame,

And wore his weary Feet:

His faintness through long toiling hours,

Each day exposed to winds and show’rs!

 

Remember all the pains that He

Endured in labor’s round,

To teach thy ways to little ones,

Who in them wisdom found:

The sick relieved, till evening’s close,

His nights of prayer denied repose!

Part II.

Remember how their Master knelt

At his disciples’ feet,

And washing them, a lesson taught

For love’s sweet service meet:

How, all devoted to their good,

He gave Himself to be their food!

 

Remember all his sorrow, when

He in the garden pray’d,

The grief, the anguish, and the dread,

Upon his spirit laid;

Was ever agony so sore,

That sweated Blood from ev’ry pore!

 

Remember by what treach’rous craft,

And soldiers’ arm’d array,

With meekest look that gentle Lamb

Was led in cords away;

Like doer vile of envious wrong,

Dragg’d pris’ner by the guards along!

 

Remember, Jesus blindfold stood,

Mid fierce and cruel bands,

Who, mocking, bade Him prophesy,

And struck with impious hands;

How buffeted He lay forlorn,

Stretch’d on the pavement, bruised and torn!

 

Remember what a crown they press’d

Upon his sacred Head, —

That Head, which ev’ry gift enfolds,

With thorny cincture bled;

How spit on, stripp’d, with scourges flay’d,

In purple robe He stood array’d!

 

Remember how He walk’d despised,

In modest robe of white,

By naughty men accused for naught,

His bounty to requite;

How they deliver’d the unjust

Barabbas, and condemn’d the Just!

Part III.

Remember what a weight the Cross

Upon His shoulder lay,

So vast the crime of all the world,

The load He bore away:

How impious men the Cross upon

Nail’d ruthlessly the guiltless One!

Remember, He, like helpless worm,

Not man, was raised on high,

Mark for each finger, left as one

No pity claim’d, to die:

Like one accurst, with anguish wrung,

Unconquer’d conqu’ror, thus He hung!

Remember how thy Heaven-sent Son

Burn’d with devouring zeal,

And all our shame endured, that He

Our shameful guilt might heal:

Of Mother’s love, how great the grief,

To see her Son past all relief!

Remember with what wondrous love

The robber He received,

Blest partner of his Passion made,

Its power who believed!

His cup of vinegar and gall, —

The dregs of woe, He drank them all!

Remember all his fluttering dread,

Of comfort when bereft,

“Why thus, my God,” the Saviour cried,

“Forsaken am I left?”

How shook the earth, day turn’d to night,

When from the world death took its Light!

Remember what a gory stream

Burst from her dear Son’s Heart,

...

Table of contents

• Hymns for Week-Days and Sundays, when not Otherwise Appointed.
• Hymns for the Principal Holy Days and Saints’ Days.
• Hymns for Particular Occasions of Devotion.
• All Saints!
• Part I.
• Part II.
• Part III.
• Doxology.