Lenten Retreat music recommendations?
  • OrganistfromOntario
    Posts: 15
    Hello,

    Our priest is offering a one-day Lenten retreat mid-March. The theme of his reflection will be "St Dismas and God’s Mercy” and it will be within the context of Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition.

    Any suggestions for music (other than “Jesus, Remember Me”)? I was thinking of incorporating the Attende Domine (not currently familiar in the parish) but I’m looking for other chant and traditional hymnody to incorporate.
  • Cmanfro
    Posts: 25
    Parce domine
    There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy
    Humbly We Adore Thee
  • OMagnumMysterium
    Posts: 339
    Perhaps "God of Mercy and Compassion"?
    Thanked by 1oldhymns
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,157
    If an English version of "Attende Domine" might be useful, you could look for "Draw Near, O Lord Our God", though it's still under copyright: https://hymnary.org/hymn/OIF2014/page/546

    The chant notation for "Attende Domine" is here:
    https://media.churchmusicassociation.org/books/cantus_selecti.pdf#page=53

    If part of the day will be focused on the Passion, then the hymn "Ah, Holy Jesus" might be suitable.
    https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1982/page/378

    Fr. Samuel Weber's "Hymnal for the Hours" has several Lenten hymns from the Divine Office, in English translations by the nuns of Stanbrook Abbey:
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8-wRwkTf2OfV2hhdEI4SkphTXBPWFg0Y19kLTVVQl8tblJF/view?resourcekey=0-Uc-39w0NRmhZ4bJmhQD9uA

    such as #57, "Come, Holy Spirit, Ever One":
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    come-holy-spirit-ever-one.jpg
    799 x 822 - 100K
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen oldhymns
  • OrganistfromOntario
    Posts: 15
    Thanks for the feedback. It will be a two-hour time slot. I have a small choir that will sing for the retreat (maybe more if other parishes join in).

    I’m hoping to meet with the pastor soon to discuss, but I’m assuming he wants the usual three for adoration (exposition/benediction/reposition - O Salutaris, Tantum Ergo, and Holy God, We Praise Thy Name).

    I know he’s prepared/preparing that reflection on St Dismas and God’s mercy, so I thought the music following his reflection could have some order to it -- reflecting on maybe four elements (acknowledgment of sinfulness, contrition, absolution, acceptance/gratitude for forgiveness & mercy). These are rough ideas and I’m open to other ideas too. Just want to plan it well. This will all be punctuated with substantial moments of silence to reflect on each piece.

    Some ideas that came to mind were:
    - Lenten Prose (Attende Domine in English)
    - Divine Mercy Chaplet chanted (too long maybe to incorporate?)
    - God of Mercy and Compassion (AU SANG QU'UN DIEU)
    - We’ve sung the tune ISTE CONFESSOR before a cappella. The CBW III (Canada’s national hymnal) has the hymn “Great God of Mercy” set to that tune. #361. It’s another possibility.
    - Taizé: In the Lord I'll be Ever Thankful (a cappella, #546 in the Gather Comprehensive)

    Just trying to compile ideas, then narrow it down.
    Thanked by 1chonak
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,947
    For ATTENDE DOMINE we use Ralph Wright's "Hear us Almighty Lord, show us your mercy", also © 1980, but in our hymnal.
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