Here’s the single released last week from Audrey Assad, “Drawn to you”:
All my devotion is like sinking sand
I’ve nothing to cling to but your sweet hand
No clear emotions keeping me safe at night;
Only your presence, like a candle light.
After everything I’ve had After everything I’ve lost Lord, I know this much is true I’m still drawn to you.
I pour out my sorrows like a precious oil
I kiss your feet, Lord, with a holy joy
My tears an offering of my highest praise;
Your eyes say ‘welcome.’ I receive Your gaze.
After everything’s been said
After everything love costs
Lord, I know this much is true
I’m still drawn to you
Okay, this one is a little different. This is what I’ve been listening to all morning. It is audio from Saint Pope John-Paul II, interlaced with background music. It’s surprisingly good to have on in the background while working… 🙂
I cannot believe that “I shall not want” by Audrey Assad has not been on Music Mondays before!
I was on the phone this week with a friend and the Litany of Humility was mentioned, so when I got off the phone I went looking for the blog entry where I posted this song, one of my favourites from Audrey Assad, only to find that I had never shared here before!
Previously, I had posted the song from Danielle Rose, which is really beautiful and also which stays closer to the original text of the prayer, but here is the song by Audrey Assad which managed to work its way just that little bit deeper into my heart…
From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God
From the need to be understood
And from a need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
And I shall not want, no, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want
From the fear of serving others
Oh, and from the fear of death or trial
And from the fear of humility
Deliver me O God
Yes, deliver me O God
I have always enjoyed the song “Let all mortal flesh”. My love of this song deepened as I dug into Church History and discovered these words were part of the ancient Liturgy of St. James. Although most people associate this song with Christ’s coming at Christmas, both the lyrics and this early liturgical setting point, not to Christ’s coming two thousand years ago, but to His coming to us on the altar at every Mass.
Despite having always loved the song, this weekend my love was taken to new depths. On Saturday I heard a new version of this song by Sarah Kroger on The Catholic Playlist Show. Since then, I have played little else . The orchestration and Sarah’s phenomenal voice, as clear as glass, have such a transcendent quality…wow….just…..wow.
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav’nly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the pow’rs of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Today’s music selection was recommended by Matt, my co-host of The Eagle & Child. This is “Bleed the same” by Mandisa:
We all bleed the same We’re more beautiful when we come together We all bleed the same So tell me why, tell me why we’re divided
Woke up today
Another headline, another innocent life is taken
In the name of hatred
So hard to take
And if we think that it’s all good
Then we’re mistaken
‘Cause my heart is breakin’
Are you left, are you right
Pointing fingers, taking sides
When are we gonna realize
If we’re gonna fight, let’s fight for each other
If we’re gonna shout, let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why we’re divided
Tell me who are we
To judge someone by the kind of clothes they’re wearin’
Or the color of their skin
Are you black, are you white
Aren’t we all the same inside
Father, open our eyes to see
Only love can drive out all the darkness
What are we fightin’ for
We were made to carry one another
We were made for more
We all bleed the same
We’re more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why we’re divided
If we’re gonna fight, let’s fight for each other
If we’re gonna shout, let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
Let’s stand united, let’s stand united
If ever more proof was needed that Audrey Assad sings like an angel…
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well
With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul