1. In Perfect Charity, words and music by Randall DeBruyn. The music is probably a little on the sing-song side if you're a musicologist but I am not offended--not with a text like this. Verse 1 is a nearly verbatim quote from St. Francis of Assisi--supposedly the prayer that he prayed when God told him "Go rebuild my Church." Famously, St. Francis misunderstood God and began renovating a little stone church that had fallen to the ground. As he worked he prayed:
"Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart; Give me right faith, sure hope, and perfect charity. Fill me with understanding and knowledge,that I may fulfill your command."
DeBruyn takes this very pure prayer to know and do God's will, and makes it singable. The second and third verses, particularly the third, do not destroy the original prayer but take it to its supernatural conclusion:
Praise to the love that shines in splendor
"Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart; Give me right faith, sure hope, and perfect charity. Fill me with understanding and knowledge,that I may fulfill your command."
DeBruyn takes this very pure prayer to know and do God's will, and makes it singable. The second and third verses, particularly the third, do not destroy the original prayer but take it to its supernatural conclusion:
Praise to the love that shines in splendor
that lights the pathways of my heart and brings me close to You.
O Holy One, invite me in, where You live in perfect charity.
In my estimation this song is one of the greatest gifts anyone ever gave to the Church. It deserves much more play.
In my estimation this song is one of the greatest gifts anyone ever gave to the Church. It deserves much more play.
2. Restless is the Heart, by Bernadette Farrell. Actually Farrell deserves credit for the music and the idea, which is very nice indeed: Marry the most famous line in Augustine's Confessions with Psalm 90. Beautiful.
3. Almost anything by John Schiavone. Beginning with O, How Blest.
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