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Views from the Choir Loft

Thoughts on the “Hymn” for the Year of Mercy?

Andrew Leung · August 13, 2015

CTL Year of Mercy FRIEND OF MINE posted a link about the Holy Year of Mercy on my Facebook yesterday. The Vatican just released the official hymn for the Year of Mercy on August 6. Misericordes sicut Pater by English composer Paul Inwood was chosen by a committee. Inwood and 89 other composers around the world participated in the competition sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.

The name of the piece, Misericordes sicut Pater, is from Luke 6:36. It is also the motto for the Jubilee: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. The text was written by Jesuit Father Eugenio Costa. The piece has been released in Italian, French and English, with the refrains and antiphons in Latin. The full English score can be found here. This is the official English text from the Vatican website:

Misericordes sicut Pater! Misericordes sicut Pater!

1. Give thanks to the Father, for He is good in aeternum misericordia eius
He created the world with wisdom in aeternum misericordia eius
He leads His people throughout history in aeternum misericordia eius
He pardons and welcomes His children in aeternum misericordia eius

2. Give thanks to the Son, Light of the Nations in aeternum misericordia eius
He loved us with a heart of flesh in aeternum misericordia eius
As we receive from Him, let us also give to Him in aeternum misericordia eius
Hearts open to those who hunger and thirst in aeternum misericordia eius

Misericordes sicut Pater! Misericordes sicut Pater!

3. Let us ask the Spirit for the seven holy gifts in aeternum misericordia eius
Fount of all goodness and the sweetest relief in aeternum misericordia eius
Comforted by Him, let us offer comfort in aeternum misericordia eius
Love hopes and bears all things in aeternum misericordia eius

4. Let us ask for peace from the God of all peace in aeternum misericordia eius
The earth waits for the Good News of the Kingdom in aeternum misericordia eius
Joy and pardon in the hearts of the little ones in aeternum misericordia eius
The heavens and the earth will be renewed in aeternum misericordia eius

Misericordes sicut Pater! Misericordes sicut Pater!

HERE IS ONE THING I don’t quite understand: why is this piece an “official hymn”? Why can’t it be an “official song”? This song is really not a hymn! It is a Litany! I would have to admit that this piece is the best one I have heard by Inwood. And this Litany is definitely more dignified and worthy for the Liturgy than Center of My Life. But it is still not my favorite. What do you think?

I do think the Sistine Chapel Choir sounds much better than a few years ago.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It was thought important that the song should actually accompany the distribution of Communion. A Carolingian explanation of the Mass remarks that during the Communion “soft melody should touch the ear [of the faithful] so that hearing this sound they would busy themselves less with distracting thoughts and … their hearts would be moved to humble love for that which they receive.”

— Father Josef Andreas Jungmann

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