Hymn for the Soul of a Pope
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,524
    I've been working on a hymn for a while that incorporates some of my thoughts about the priesthood.

    Today I adapted it for Pope Francis, in hopes that it might be useful for those planning liturgies today and in the coming mourning period.

    It can be set to AURELIA.

    O Lord, receive Your servant into Your dwelling-place,
    Your realm of endless glory transcending time and space,
    Where You complete all worship and sacraments fulfill,
    Where priests are priests forever according to Your will.

    The Son forever glorious, our sacrificial Feast,
    Through human mediation, the action of a priest,
    Brings heaven to the lowly and lifts the human race
    By sacramental blessings in festivals of grace.

    O charity unfathomed! Though rich becoming poor,
    Christ makes an earthen vessel a priest forevermore.
    The co-eternal Maker of earth and sky and sea
    Breathes new on his anointed the grace of ministry.

    Receive our Holy Father, high priest on Peter’s chair,
    Whose office was the union of Churches everywhere
    By strengthening the brethren in faith and hope and love.
    Receive him, Lord, in mercy into Your Church above.

    All honor, glory, blessing throughout the heavens ring
    To God Who shares His likeness; to God our gracious King.
    Praise Father, Son, and Spirit, forever Three in One,
    Who by the blood of Jesus the world’s salvation won.

    Text c. 2025 Kathleen Pluth. Permission granted for use through May 2025. All other rights reserved.
    Thanked by 10CHGiffen cesarfranck ServiamScores Mattspmusic0320 Alli M. Jackson Osborn Bri AngelaR denroden RC_Liturgy_Music
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,268
    This is quite special. Thanks to Kathy.

    It also works well with the tune ST THEODULPH.
    And Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein might work well, too.
    Thanked by 4cesarfranck ServiamScores Kathy M. Jackson Osborn
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,181
    Kathy, we will use this at the cathedral in Kalamazoo. Thank you. This will make a very fitting hymn during our requiem mass. (Which is to say, ‘thank you’!)
    Thanked by 1Kathy
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 268
    I'd love to hear this set to PASSION CHORALE.
    Thanked by 1Kathy
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,090
    [I fixed a typo at Kathy's request; thanks to the alert reader who spotted it.
    Also, a score with AURELIA is here.]
    Thanked by 4Kathy AngelaR CHGiffen Bri
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,524
    A video for the curious https://youtu.be/jPqZ9LmrfEg?si=kxMa3XCxl5U9LCAR
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Bri
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 3,181
    As promised, we sang it yesterday. It was well received.
    Thanked by 1Kathy
  • RC_Liturgy_Music
    Posts: 19
    Kathy, thank you for this!

    I did it as a meditation hymn at the 4 pm vigil, and will do it again for the Sunday Masses.

    Several folks came up to me and said something along the lines of: "Was that a hymn for Pope Francis? The words were different, but I knew the tune! I loved it." As you can see, incredibly well received.

    I especially love verse 4 - again, thank you for this.
    Thanked by 2Kathy Bri
  • ChurchMusician
    Posts: 15
    Kathy, thank you so much for this hymn for our Holy Father, Pope Francis! We used the score to the tune of AURELIA posted by Chonak, sung as a prelude for our 4 PM vigil Mass. It was the perfect piece for our small choir to use on short notice.
    Thanked by 1Kathy
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