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Musical Musings: Hymns and Hymnody

Core Hymnody

by Gary D. Penkala

There is a certain set of standard hymns, a "core" repertoire, that every Catholic congregation should know. These are hymns that should be familiar and comfortable, hymns that are sung often, hymns that are taught to our children. They represent the "comfort food" of hymnody. Occasionally new hymns should be taught and added to the congregation's repertoire -- hymns that can add "spice" to a certain celebration or season, pinpointing a specific theme or mood.

Let's take as our starting point a list of 150 hymns compiled by the Consultation on Ecumenical Hymnody, the titles of which follow. The codes after each title represent which major Catholic hymnals contain that title. Many of these should be on your congregation's well-known list. At the end of the ecumenical list is a group of hymns that I've added -- additional hymns that every Catholic congregation should know.

150 Ecumenical Hymns

  1. A Mighty Fortress (WIII #575, HPSC #100, CBW #641, PMB #145, EH #551)
  2. Abide with Me (CH #431, HH #159, ICEL #171, CHB #192, SMH #191, EH #467)
  3. Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended? (AH #402, CHB #59, SMH #195, EH #71)
  4. All Creatures of Our God and King (WIII #520, HPSC #103, CBW #620, PMB #120, HH #186, AH #600, CH #555, CHB #198, SMH #198)
  5. All Glory, Laud and Honor (AH #383, CBW #486, CH #256, HPSC #105, ICEL #55, PMB #41, WIII #428, CHB #60, SMH #200, EH #62)
  6. All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (WIII #494, ICEL #102, HH #285, PMB #99, CH #521, CHB #199, SMH #204, EH #355)
  7. All My Heart This Night Rejoices (CH #228, ICEL #14, CHB #14, EH #32)
  8. All People That on Earth Do Dwell (WIII #669, HPSC #107, ICEL #166, AH #622, CBW #621, PMB #206, CHB #201, SMH #202, EH #278)
  9. All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night (HH #230, HPSC #503, EH #165)
  10. All Things Are Thine, No Gift Have We
  11. Angels from the Realms of Glory (CH #206, HH #41, ICEL #15, WIII #377, SMH #219, EH #28)
  12. Angels We Have Heard on High (AH #323, CBW #463, CH #219, HPSC #113, PMB #34, WIII #376, CHB #15, SMH #222, EH #42)
  13. As with Gladness Men of Old (HH #52, ICEL #33, WIII #409, AH #353, CH #229, HPSC #114, CBW #478, CHB #41, SMH #220, EH #52)
  14. At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set
  15. At the Name of Jesus (WIII #499, ICEL #104, HPSC #116, CBW #538, HH #137, AH #602, CH #538, CHB #207, SMH #225, EH #356)
  16. Away in a Manger (AH #336, CH #227, PMB #35, WIII #378, CHB #16, SMH #233/4, EH #43)
  17. Before Jehovah's Awful Throne
  18. Blessed Jesus, At Your Word (ICEL #180, CD #859, HH #208, CH #655)
  19. Blest Are the Pure in Heart (CBW #719, CH #450, HH #257, HPSC #123, ICEL #182, CHB #208, EH #418)
  20. Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken (CH #375, EH #196)
  21. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (HPSC #126, EH #25)
  22. Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning (CH #233, HH #50, CHB #43, SMH #245, EH #46)
  23. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (WIII #617, HPSC #128, ICEL #183, CBW #542, CH #485, AH #561, CHB #209, SMH #255, EH #384)
  24. Come Down, O Love Divine (WIII #472, HPSC #133, CBW #517, PMB #93, HH #140, AH #440, CH #498, CHB #92, SMH #266, EH #376)
  25. Come Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire (AH #442, EH #217)
  26. Come, Thou Almighty King (WIII #487, ICEL #91, CH #307, PMB #114, AH #484, SMH #269, EH #271)
  27. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (AH #310, CBW #448, HH #2, HPSC #140, ICEL #2, PMB #19, WIII #364, CHB #1, SMH #271, EH #1)
  28. Come, Ye Thankful, Raise the Strain (AH #417, ICEL #72, WIII #456, CHB #77, CH #279, SMH #274/7, EH #94)
  29. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (WIII #759, ICEL #217, HPSC #143, CH #626, CHB #211, EH #137)
  30. Crown Him with Many Crowns(AH #481, CBW #549, CH #525, HPSC #145, ICEL #106, PMB #96, WIII #496, CHB #141, SMH #272, EH #352)
  31. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (CD #922, ICEL #40, CHB #212, EH #435)
  32. Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness (SMH #282, EH #210)
  33. Eternal Father, Strong to Save (CH #601, CHB #213, SMH #292, EH #512)
  34. Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
  35. Eternal Ruler of the Ceaseless Round (CD #916)
  36. Fairest Lord Jesus (CBW #552, EH #346)
  37. Faith of Our Fathers (WIII #571, ICEL #186, HPSC #152, CH #634, PMB #149, CBW #603, AH #603, CHB #183, SMH #294, EH #393)
  38. Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation
  39. Father, We Praise Thee Now the Night Is Over
  40. Fight the Good Fight (ICEL #187, EH #560)
  41. For All the Saints (WIII #705, ICEL #189, HPSC #157, AH #590, HH #287, CBW #617, PMB #187, CH #336, CHB #166, SMH #297, EH #126)
  42. For the Beauty of the Earth (WIII #557, ICEL #225, HPSC #158, HH #163, CBW #624, PMB #125, CH #562, SMH #298, EH #296)
  43. From All Who Dwell below the Skies (ICEL #224, WIII #521, HH #176, CH #563)
  44. From Heaven Above to Earth I Come (CH #213, HH #43, ICEL #17, WIII #388, EH #22)
  45. Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (AH #563, CHB #218, SMH #303, EH #385)
  46. Go to Dark Gethsemane
  47. God Moves in a Mysterious Way
  48. God of Our Fathers (PMB #124, CH #660, WIII #764, ICEL #227, AH #625, HPSC #167, SMH #315, EH #143)
  49. God of Grace and God of Glory
  50. God the Omnipotent
  51. Good Christian Men, Rejoice (AH #334, CBW #465, CH #190, HH #45, ICEL #18, PMB #33, WIII #391, SMH #322, EH #31)
  52. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (EH #434)
  53. Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise (WIII #471, ICEL #82, HH #139, HPSC #176, CBW #512, AH #430, CH #295, CBH #87, SMH #332, EH #104)
  54. Hail Thee, Festival Day (AH #414, CBW #509, CH #274, HPSC #179, PMB #78, WIII #444, SMH #333, EH #86/102/107)
  55. Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus
  56. Hail to the Lord's Anointed (AH #354, CH #175, HH #54, HPSC #181, ICEL #229, CHB #3, SMH #328, EH #545)
  57. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (AH #325, CBW #462, CH #222, HPSC #182, ICEL #20, PMB #37, WIII #387, CHB #21, SMH #338, EH #27)
  58. Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face
  59. Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (WIII #524, ICEL #134, HPSC #180, CBW #631, PMB #127, AH #461, CH #568, CHB #222, SMH #345, EH #273)
  60. Holy, Holy, Holy (WIII #485, ICEL #94, HPSC #185, CBW #634, CH #306, AH #460, CHB #96, SMH #343, EH #266)
  61. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds (ICEL #156, WIII #610, CHB #223, EH #455)
  62. If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee (HPSC #191)
  63. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (PMB #118, WIII #512, ICEL #233, HH #193, CH #566, CHB #225, SMH #363, EH #301)
  64. In Christ There Is No East or West (WIII #607, HPSC #194, PMB #103, CBW #556, CH #650, SMH #365, EH #263)
  65. In Heavenly Love Abiding (ICEL #210, EH #431)
  66. In the Bleak Mid-winter (CH #193, CHB #23, SMH #366, EH #44)
  67. In the Cross of Christ I Glory (CH #249, SMH #367, EH #336)
  68. Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (AH #410, CBW #500, CH #288, HPSC #201, ICEL #73, PMB #74, WIII #442, CHB #79, SMH #376, EH #85)
  69. Jesus, Priceless Treasure
  70. Jesus Shall Reign (ICEL #101, WIII #492, HH #253, PMB #107, CH #508, CHB #231, SMH #381, EH #542)
  71. Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee(SMH #384, EH #462)
  72. Joy to the World (AH #320, CBW #454, CH #208, HPSC #205, ICEL #22, PMB #24, WIII #399, SMH #387, EH #319)
  73. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (CH #581, HPSC #203, WIII #525, SMH #386, EH #281)
  74. Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor
  75. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (AH #605, CBW #571, CH #377, HPSC #209, ICEL #137, PMB #657, WIII #523, CHB #120, SMH #394, EH #197)
  76. Let All the World in Every Corner Sing (CD #913, CH #582, HPSC #206, WIII #536, CHB #236, EH #290)
  77. Let Us with a Gladsome Mind
  78. Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! (AH #485, HH #19, HPSC #211, ICEL #7, WIII #363, SMH #399, EH #484)
  79. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (AH #329, CH #191, PMB #13, WIII #374, SMH #402)
  80. Look Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious(WIII #468, EH #105)
  81. Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing
  82. Lord Jesus, Think on Me (AH #364, HH #64, CHB #53, SMH #405, EH #417)
  83. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (ICEL #152, WIII #588, AH #470, CH #454, CHB #242, SMH #409, EH #479)
  84. Make Me a Captive, Lord
  85. May the Grace of Christ Our Savior (CBW #596, CH #404, ICEL #153, WIII #742, EH #216)
  86. New Every Morning Is the Love
  87. Not Alone for Mighty Empire
  88. Now Thank We All Our God (CBW #674, PMB #30, WIII #560, ICEL #235, HPSC #231, CBW #674, PMB #130, AH #607, CH #570, CHB #246, SMH #428, EH #276)
  89. O Come, All Ye Faithful (AH #322, CBW #458, CH #225, HPSC #235, ICEL #23, PMB #25, WIII #392, CHB #13, SMH #436, EH #12)
  90. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (AH #301, CBW #440, CH #179, HPSC #236, ICEL #8, PMB #1, WIII #357, CHB #8, SMH #438, EH #2)
  91. O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (HPSC #237, EH #325)
  92. O Gladsome Light (HH #168, WIII #679, EH #176)
  93. O God of Earth and Altar
  94. O God, Our Help in Ages Past (HPSC #241, WIII #579, ICEL #237, CBW #640, CH #457, PMB #128, HH #169, AH #624, CHB #249, SMH #446, EH #289)
  95. O Holy City Seen of John (CD #920, CH #620, WIII #685, EH #494)
  96. O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts (WIII #605, ICEL #139, HH #249, CH #510, SMH #450, EH #485)
  97. O Little Town of Bethlehem (AH #333, CH #198, HPSC #249, ICEL #24, PMB #27, WIII #386, CHB #27, SMH #454/5, EH #21)
  98. O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea
  99. O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (HPSC #256)
  100. O Perfect Love, All Human Thought Transcending (CBW #598, HPSC #257, CHB #252, EH #214)
  101. O Sacred Head Surrounded (AH #403, CBW #491, CH #259, HH #93, HPSC #248, ICEL #57, PMB #50, WIII #434, CHB #67, SMH #464, EH #75)
  102. O (Ye) Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (CBW #506, CH #290, HPSC #358, ICEL #74, PMB #76, WIII #447, CHB #86, AH #412, SMH #616, EH #99)
  103. O Splendor of God's Glory Bright(EH #158)
  104. O Worship the King (AH #483, CH #571, HH #201, HPSC #268, PMB #138, CHB #255, SMH #472, EH #288)
  105. Of the Father's Love Begotten(AH #331, CBW #470, CH #220, HH #44, HPSC #269, ICEL #25, WIII #398, CHB #28, SMH #473, EH #20)
  106. On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry (AH #303, CBW #443, CH #182, HH #14, HPSC #271, ICEL #9, WIII #356, CHB #9, SMH #478, EH #10)
  107. Open Now the Gates of Beauty (CH #496, SMH #483)
  108. Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow (ICEL #166, CBW #622, AH #521, PMB #206, EH #139)
  109. Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (WIII #530, HPSC #279, ICEL #242, CBW #650, PMB #123, AH #611, CHB #258, CH #513, SMH #495, EH #282)
  110. Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens (WIII #529, ICEL #243, HPSC #282, PMB #662, CBW #656, CH #573, CHB #259)
  111. Praise to the Living God
  112. Praise to the Lord (WIII #547, ICEL #245, HPSC #284, CH #592, PMB #122, CBW #653, AH #612, CHB #110, SMH #498, EH #279)
  113. Ride On, Ride On in Majesty (AH #382, HH #97, CHB #68, SMH #511, EH #64)
  114. Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name
  115. Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless (CH #390, HPSC #294, ICEL #144, WIII #728, SMH #522, EH #213)
  116. Silent Night (AH #338, CBW #455, CH #226, HPSC #295, ICEL #29, PMB #22, WIII #379, CHB #35, SMH #523, EH #33)
  117. Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (WIII #528, ICEL #246, HPSC #301, HH #203, SMH #527)
  118. Son of God, Eternal Savior
  119. Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer (CBW #521, CH #502, PMB #94, WIII #476, SMH #535, EH #370)
  120. Strong Son of God, Immortal Love
  121. Sun of My Soul
  122. Take My Life and Let It Be (ICEL #201, CHB #263, EH #408)
  123. The Church's One Foundation (WIII #618, ICEL #202, HPSC #312, CBW #604, HH #282, AH #560, PMB #150, CH #489, CHB #187, SMH #552, EH #396)
  124. The Day of Resurrection (CH #278, HH #130, HPSC #316, CHB #82, SMH #557, EH #96)
  125. The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended (HH #171, PMB #759, WIII #678, CHB #197, SMH #555, EH #179)
  126. The Duteous Day Now Closeth
  127. The First Nowell (AH #327, CBW #460, CH #211, HPSC #318, ICEL #30, PMB #31, WIII #408, CHB #37, SMH #558, EH #61)
  128. The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns (WIII #464, ICEL #105, HH #303, CH #516, CHB #90, SMH #561, EH #106)
  129. The King of Love My Shepherd Is (WIII #609, ICEL #165, HPSC #324, AH #580, CH #460, CHB #265, SMH #563/4, EH #345)
  130. The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns (CH #430, HH #15, HPSC #325, PMB #12, WIII #373, SMH #565, EH #11)
  131. The Lord Will Come and Not Be Slow
  132. The Strife Is O'er (WIII #451, ICEL #77, PMB #68, HH #131, CBW #503, AH #413, CH #276, CHB #83, SMH #570, EH #91)
  133. There's A Wideness in God's Mercy (WIII #595, ICEL #52, PMB #54, AH #613, CH #535, CHB #268, SMH #575, EH #304)
  134. This Is My Father's World
  135. Thou Art the Way, to Thee Alone
  136. Thou Whose Almighty Word (WIII #486)
  137. Through All the Changing Scenes of Life
  138. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (AH #306, CBW #451, CH #186, HH #25, ICEL #11, PMB #10, WIII #371, CHB #10, HPSC #338, EH #3)
  139. Watchman, Tell Us of the Night (HH #28, EH #440)
  140. We Gather Together (PMB #234, WIII #760, HPSC #344, CH #558, SMH #596, EH #315)
  141. We Plow the Fields and Scatter (ICEL #219, CH #628, SMH #598, EH #138)
  142. Were You There? (PMB #51, ICEL #61, WIII #436, CBW #493, CH #262, SMH #602, EH #80)
  143. What Child Is This? (AH #330, CBW #461, CH #215, ICEL #31, PMB #28, WIII #411, SMH #604, EH #36)
  144. When All Thy Mercies, O My God
  145. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (ICEL #63, WIII #433, CH #263, PMB #53, CBW #489, CHB #72, SMH #609/10, EH #337)
  146. When Morning Gilds the Skies (AH #614, CH #428, HH #207, ICEL #170, CHB #272, SMH #611, EH #367)
  147. Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life (ICEL #206, EH #498)
  148. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (AH #332, CH #199, ICEL #28, WIII #382, CHB #40, SMH #613, EH #13)
  149. Ye Servants of God (CD #911, CH #519, HPSC #357)
  150. Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (HPSC #359, WIII #707, AH #416, HH #275, PMB #71, CH #578, CHB #275, SMH #617, EH #599)

Some Traditional Catholic Hymns

  • Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (HPSC #112, ICEL #130, WIII #737, CBW #536, AH #601, PMB #663, CH #504, CHB #112, SMH #213, EH #347)
  • Around the Throne a Glorious Band (CH #335, HH #301, ICEL #178, WIII #719, EH #120), CNP Catalog #4427
  • At the Cross Her Station Keeping (AH #401, CBW #494, CH #235, HPSC #115, PMB #55, WIII #421, CHB #61, SMH #223, EH #76)
  • At the Lamb's High Feast (WIII #459, ICEL #65, HH #102, CBW #563, AH #411, CH #268, CHB #73, SMH #224, EH #89)
  • Be Joyful, Mary, Heavenly Queen (CBW #497, CH #328, ICEL #109, PMB #77, WIII #450, SMH #241)
  • Be Thou My Vision (HPSC #121, HH #231, AH #623, CH #531, SMH #238)
  • Christ Is the World's Light (CBW #543, HPSC #130, WIII #543, CD #897, EH #258)
  • Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest (AH #443, CBW #516, CH #299, HPSC #135, ICEL #85, PMB #84, WIII #482, SMH #267, EH #218)
  • Creator of the Stars of Night (AH #309, CBW #539, CH #174, HH #4, HPSC #147, ICEL #3, PMB #5, WIII #368, EH #6)
  • Down in Adoration Falling (AH #393, CBW #582)
  • Father, We Thank Thee, Who Hast Planted (WIII #558, HPSC #156, CH #374, PMB #121, CBW #676, AH #515, CHB #116, SMH #295, EH #195)
  • Forty Days and Forty Nights (AH #362, CH #242, HH #73, ICEL #43, WIII #419, CHB #50, SMH #300, EH #55)
  • Gift of Finest Wheat (WIII #736, HPSC #360, PMB #665, CBW #570, CH #389, SMH #302)
  • God Father, Praise and Glory (AH #464, HPSC #163)
  • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (AH #326, CH #224, ICEL #19, PMB #39, WIII #383, CHB #20, SMH #316, EH #40)
  • Godhead Here in Hiding (AH #511, CH #368, HPSC #164, ICEL #138, WIII #489)
  • Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above (AH #530, CBW #610, CH #312, HPSC #170, ICEL #112, PMB #180, WIII #702, CHB #146, SMH #330)
  • He Is Risen (CH #285, SMH #341, EH #90)
  • Hear Our Entreaties, Lord (AH #366, CH #238, ICEL #254, PMB #48, WIII #414, CHB #293)
  • I Sing the Mighty Power of God (WIII #502, ICEL #228, HPSC #197, AH #616, CH #565, SMH #359)
  • Immaculate Mary (AH #532, CBW #611, CH #316, HPSC #193, ICEL #114, PMB #172, WIII #708, CHB #154, SMH #362)
  • Lift High the Cross (WIII #704, HPSC #207, CD #847, PMB #56, HH #268, CBW #545, CH #542, AH #606, SMH #398)
  • My Song Is Love Unknown (CH #258, HH #90, WIII #439)
  • O Saving Victim (AH #519, CBW #585, CH #362, HPSC #260, ICEL #141, PMB #677, WIII #757, CHB #277, EH #209)
  • Of the Glorious Body Telling (AH #392)
  • On This Day the First of Days (WIII #662, ICEL #241, PMB #235, CBW #590, HH #179, AH #610, CH #596, CD #853, SMH #481)
  • Savior of the Nations, Come (AH #302, CD #801, CH #184, HH #33, WIII #372, SMH #515)
  • Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (AH #404, CBW #583, CH #364, HPSC #298, ICEL #145, WIII #437)
  • Sing of Mary (AH #543, CBW #613, CH #323, HPSC #299, PMB #184, WIII #404, SMH #525, EH #117)
  • The Advent of Our God (CBW #449, CH #187, SMH #450)
  • The Glory of These Forty Days (AH #363, CBW #581, HH #72, HPSC #319, WIII #422, SMH #559)
  • The God Whom Earth and Sea and Sky (AH #534, CBW #608, CH #334, HPSC #321, ICEL #120, WIII #405, CHB #161, SMH #560)
  • To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King (WIII #497, CH #546, PMB #98, CBW #548, AH #480)
  • We Three Kings of Orient Are (AH #350, CH #232, ICEL #35, PMB #38, WIII #406, SMH #600, EH #51)
  • What Wondrous Love Is This? (CD #822, WIII #600, HH #95, PMB #157, ICEL #164, CH #530, HH #95, SMH #607)
Codes for Hymnals
AH = The Adoremus Hymnal, Ignatius Press
CBW = Catholic Book of Worship II / Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
CD = Cantate Domino / Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc.
CH = The Collegeville Hymnal, The Liturgical Press
CHB = The Catholic Hymn Book [London Oratory], Gracewing Publishers
EH = The Hymnal 1940 (Episcopal), used by many Anglican Use Roman Catholic parishes
HH = Hymnal of the Hours, GIA Publications, Inc.
HPSC = Hymns, Psalms & Spiritual Canticles, out of print but excellent
ICEL = ICEL Resource Collection, GIA Publications, Inc.
PMB = People's Mass Book, World Library Publications, Inc.
SMH = The Saint Michael Hymnal – 3rd Edition 2003, Saint Boniface Church, Lafayette IN
WIII = Worship, 3rd Edition, GIA Publications, Inc.

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