On Singing Songs of Praises

Since I was a child, I always loved singing songs of praises. Even though I wasn't a good singer, I sang my heart out whenever I did. I remembered back then when my father, who was a devout Catholic (and still is), bought cassette tapes of religious songs and praises. When the music played, all of us, even though no one in our family had the gift of music, sang loudly and joyfully. We never got tired of singing those songs: my father always requested to play those tapes especially during Christmas, Lenten season, All Souls and Saints day. Sometimes, out of the blue, or in the morning, the familiar music would play and wake us all, and then the "singing" would begin. :)

When I sang alone in the mass today, I reminisced those moments with my family and realized how I missed them.

I sang, trying to grab those notes and the time without them that had flown unknowingly.

I sang, imagining those mornings, the voices that were nearly as battered as the cassette tapes were.

I sang, teary-eyed and wishing that they were with me in that mass, singing not with our voices, but with our heart as we glorified our God.

As a tribute to those now voiceless voices, I would post my favorite songs of praises:

~o~

Take and Receive

Take and receive, O Lord, my liberty.

Take all my will, my mind, and memory.

All things I hold, and all I own are thine.

Thine was the gift, to thee, I all resign.

Do thou direct and govern all and sway,

Do what thou wilt command, and I obey.

Only thy grace, thy love on me bestow,

These make me rich, all else will I forego.

~o~

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ

Sanctify me

Body of Christ save me

Water from the side of Christ

Wash me, Passion of Christ

Give me strength

Hear me Jesus

Hide me in thy wounds

That I may never leave thy side

From all the evil that surrounds me

Defend me and when the call of death arrives

Bid me come to thee

That I may praise thee

With thy saints forever

~o~

I Will Sing Forever

I will sing forever of Your love, O Lord

I will celebrate the wonder of Your name

For the word that You speak is a song of forgiveness

And a song of gentle mercy and of peace

Let us wake at the morning and be filled with Your love

And sing songs of praise all our days

For Your love is as high as the heavens above us

And Your faithfulness as certain as the dawn

I will sing forever of Your love, O Lord

I will celebrate the wonder of Your name

For the word that You speak is a song of forgiveness

And a song of gentle mercy and of peace

I will sing forever of Your love, O Lord

For You are my refuge and my strength

You fill the world with Your life-giving spirit

That speaks Your word

Your word of mercy and of peace

And I will sing forever of Your love, O Lord

Yes I will sing forever of Your love, O Lord

~o~

Healing

Now that we have gotten through

One more fall

I can just admit I've got it all

Cause I do

Cause I've got you

We've crossed these battle lines to many times

It passes through the heart

But it never leaves a mark

Cause Your love just keeps on healing me

No matter how I bruise

If I just trust You

Your love just keeps on healing me

One more clue

One more chance that wasn't there before

In your arms

no pain can harm the way I'm feeling

Lord I know that Your love is healing

I've kicked around those lines in my head

But I've never listened to the words that You said

See where its lead

Well I know I have it now

Cause You showed me how

And all I had to do

Was just to keep my eyes on You

Cause Your love just keeps on healing me

No matter how I bruise

If I just trust You

Your love just keeps on healing me

One more clue

One more chance that wasn't there before

In your arms

no pain can harm the way I'm feeling

Lord I know that Your love is healing

Cause Your love just keeps on healing me

No matter how I bruise

If I just trust You

Your love just keeps on healing me

One more clue

One more chance that wasn't there before

In your arms

no pain can harm the way I'm feeling

Lord I know that Your love is healing

~o~

Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad

Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas-palad

Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo

At magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat

Na walang hinihintay mula sa Iyo

Na makibakang di inaalintana, mga hirap na dinaranas

Sa tuwina'y magsumikap na hindi humahanap ng kapalit na kaginhawaan

at di naghihintay kundi ang aking mabatid na ang loob Mo'y siyang sinusundan.

Panginoon, turuan mo akong maging bukas palad

Turuan mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo

At magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat

Na walang hinihintay mula sa Iyo.

~o~

Awit ng Paghahangad

Ika’y pagmamasdan sa dakong banal,

Nang makita ko ang ‘Yong pagkarangal.

Dadalangin akong nakataas aking kamay,

Magagalak na aawit ng papuring iaalay.

Gunita ko’y Ikaw

Habang nahihimlay

Pagkat ang tulong Mo sa tuwina’y taglay.

Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak

(umaawit akong buong galak/umaawit, umaawit, umaawit akong buong galak.)

Aking kaluluwa’y kumakapit sa ‘Yo,

Kaligtasa’y t’yak kong hawak Mo ako.

Magdiriwang ang hari ang Diyos S’yang dahilan.

Ang sa Iyo ay nangakong galak yaong makakamtan.

~o~

I could still hear the echo of those voices...making me recall that I was once in a home where music was valued not for how good you could sing, but how you could make yourself worthy of the music.