Hymns
Why is the St. Michael Hymnal my favorite? Is it because it has Greet We This Mystery Yearly Returning? Or because it has O God Beyond All Praising, with all three verses?Is it because it has the Novus Ordo in Latin and English on facing pages at the beginning and lots of chant masses? Or because the hymns are listed alphabetically and not by theme ("gathering", "church,") so you can always find it, even if you were late or sneezing or thinking about lunch when the cantor announced the hymn, even if you forgot your glasses and can't read that board way up there.
Is it because the words are so beautiful?
Is it because when I find hymns in other hymnals that I think are grand, like My Song is Love Unknown, I discover that they are already in the St. Michael Hymnal.
Is it because the introduction is so excellent, so aware of our times?
Is it because it's not produced by a company trying to make money off the liturgy, but the fruit of a parish that just wanted to serve the Lord and follow the guidelines of Vatican II? Locally grown, as it were?
Naaaww. I think it's because it has
- Firmly I Believe and Truly
- Come Down, O Love Divine
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
- Deck Thyself, My Soul, In Gladness
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
- Ah, Holy Jesus
- Prepare the Royal Highway
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Christ Whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded.
Higher o’er all the heav’ns He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.