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Day by Day with Father Bill: Weekend Edition with guest columnist Tom Walter

Liturgical Music “Musings” by Tom Walter
Dear Good People of St. Mary!
My two previous articles focused on the theological virtues of Faith and Hope. This article is about Charity (Love), the last of those virtues. The Catechism states that growing in virtue “is a lifelong task to strengthen your willpower to choose what is best and right even in the most difficult of circumstances”. The CCC further states that “the theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity” and “the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being”. (CCC 1810-1813) We certainly need the three virtues now don’t we?
As we get closer to the holy season of Lent (starting on Ash Wednesday) what better virtue to focus on than the virtue of Charity (Love)? Deacon Gerry recently preached about this topic! To be more specific, I am speaking about Agape Love! During Advent we wait for Emmanuel, God’s “love promise”. At Christmas His “love promise” is born for us in Bethlehem. During Lent God’s “love promise” comes to fruition. Through His Death and Resurrection, He demonstrated true Agape love for us by fulfilling what had been prophesied and promised by Abraham and the prophets.
For this article I will be sharing a varied repertoire of Agape love songs. Songs that we sing that tell of God’s love for us. Without getting too theological (I leave that up to Fr. Bill and Deacon Gerry!) you may already be aware of the three kinds of love . . . Eros, Philio, and Agape. Simply stated, Eros love is love of the body, a more physical form of love. Philio love is what one might call “brotherly” love. It is the highest kind of love because it is a “two-way street”. It is what we ought to have towards family, friends, and mankind (all people!) It is the “love your neighbor as yourself” kind of love. (Read I John: 7-19 for more details!) Agape love is “divine” love. It is a Greco-Christian term referring to “unconditional love”. It is the deepest form of love as it is God’s love promise to send His Son to die for all humanity. (See John 3:16-18 and I Corinthians 13:4-7).
So, here then is a repertoire of Lenten Agape love songs for your listening pleasure. Songs that speak of God’s unconditional love for us, as proven by His Son’s death and resurrection. After the resurrection He completes the “love promise” by sending us the Holy Spirit. We have then, a trinity of virtues guiding our belief in the Holy Trinity.
If you are interested in hearing the repertoire shared in this article just type in the title, composer or artist on YouTube and enjoy. May I suggest one song for each day of Lent?
May the Lord of Agape love bless you and protect you during these times and may you have a most blessed Lenten season. Remember, “he who sings prays twice”!
Tom Walter, Director of Liturgical Music
SONGS OF AGAPE LOVE
(40 songs of Lent. Listen to one each day as part of your Lenten meditation!)
Song Code: Golden Oldies Traditional Hymns Contemporary Style Songs
Above All by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche
Adoration TANTUM ERGO with refrain by Matt Maher
Behold The Cross by Bob Hurd
Christ Before Us SUO GAN
Eternity by Sarah Hart
Glory In The Cross by Dan Schutte
God Of Calvary by Matt Maher, Matt Redman, and Chris Tomlin
God Loved The World ROCKINGHAM OLD
Gracious God by Jesse Manibusan
High Above Our Way by Steve Angrisano and Curtis Stephan
I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say KINGSFORD
I Know That My Redeemer Lives by Scott Soper
Immeasurable Love by Trevor Thompson
In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend
Jesus Is A Rock In A Weary Land WEARY LAND (African American Spiritual)
Jesus Loves Me This I Know JESUS LOVES ME (by William Bradbury)
Jesus Son Of God by James Ingram and Matt Maher
Lamb Of God by Twilla Paris
Lord, Your Love Is Eternal by Ed Bolduc
Mighty To Save by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding
Now We Remain by David Haas
O Sacred Head, Surrounded PASSION CHORALE
O Saving Victim by Curtis Stephan and Steve Angrisano
O Word Of Christ by Sarah Hart and Dwight Liles
Only A Shadow by Carey Landry
Save Your People by Jim Farrell
Sing My Tongue The Savior’s Glory PANGE LINGUA GLORIOSI
Softly And Tenderly by Lamartine Thompson
Song Of The Cross by Susan Hookong-Taylor
The Old Rugged Cross by George Bennard
Three Days THAXTED
Turn To Me by John Foley S.J.
We Remember by Marty Haugen
We Remember, We Believe by Steve Angrisano
What Wondrous Love Is This WONDROUS LOVE (American Folk Song melody)
Where True Love Abides by Gregory Norbet
With These Ashes by Gerard Chiusano
You Alone Can Rescue by Jonas Myrin
You Are Mine by David Haas
You Are My King (Amazing Love) by Billy James Foote