Hymns for Confirmation?

Well it does to the people who post here... dispassionate and reasoned debate, with a good deal of humour thrown in for good measure.

Moderators: Dom Perignon, Casimir

quaeritor
Posts: 350
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:33 pm
Location: oxfordshire

Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by quaeritor »

Are there any hymns for Confirmation emerging as "classics" from the more contemporary end of the musical spectrum? Our horizons are usually limited to the contents of Laudate (original edition) which is rather thin on hymns to or about the Holy Spirit (and, curiously, although there is a section on Sacraments and Rites it does not include any mention of Confirmation). In an effort to emphasise that this is a "whole parish" celebration, not just a primary school function we make the service a joint effort between the Choir and the Music Group. (We manage to do this amicably! :) ) I have tried to maintain an element of older music more appreciated by the older members of the parish, but this year I have finally lost my defence of the mighty "Come Holy Ghost, Creator come" as the opening hymn although I have managed to persuade the organisers that "Shine, Jesus, shine" is not a hymn to the Holy Spirit ("the clue's in the title" :? ) This has left us a bit short of material this year.

We are not confined to Laudate for this occasion as we print a service leaflet, so any suggestions will be most welcome.

Q
User avatar
VML
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:57 am
Parish / Diocese: Clifton Diocese
Location: Glos

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by VML »

We have used 'Come down, O love divine,' 'Breathe on me Breath of God', Taize 'Veni Sancte Spiritus' , -very simple ostenato, and beautiful verses; also Chris Walker's Veni Sancte Spiritus composed for JPII's Confirmation Mass in Coventry in 1982. That is a more challenging piece, with the counterpoint verses. Hope you find something useful.
User avatar
VML
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:57 am
Parish / Diocese: Clifton Diocese
Location: Glos

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by VML »

And there is always 'Walk in the Light', or 'All over the world, the Spirit is moving'. 70s and 80s I know, but sort of modern.
JW
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:46 am
Location: Kent

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by JW »

'Walk in the light' is in Laudate, though strangely not in the Pentecost section. It seems to be one of those where each parish has its own version. There is also a hymn called 'Holy Spirit of Fire' which is, I think in Hymns Old and New.
JW
High Peak
Posts: 218
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:49 pm
Parish / Diocese: Glossop; Diocese of Nottingham
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by High Peak »

From the "contemporary end of the spectrum" we have used:-
"Veni Sancte Spiritus" (Taizé) during the Sacrament itself.
"Be still, for the presence of the Lord" during the Presentation of the Gifts.
"Jesus, lead us to the Father by your Spirit" (by Sam Hargreaves @ RESOUNDWorship) during the Communion Procession.
alan29
Posts: 1240
Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 8:04 pm
Location: Wirral

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by alan29 »

We use this Dona Pena song - I say "Yes" my Lord..Although it doesn't mention the Spirit explicitly the words are very apt. And people can join in easily while the candidates are being confirmed.
NB - we don't do the Spanish!
As usual with GIA there is a recording to listen to.
https://www.giamusic.com/store/resource ... rint-g5306
helen rees
Posts: 34
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2012 11:31 am
Parish / Diocese: southwark

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by helen rees »

Have you tried Dave Wellington's Send us the rain Lord and Mike Stanley's Like the Dewfall which both went down well in our parish.
oopsorganist
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by oopsorganist »

Laudate 305

Enemy of Apathy.
uh oh!
alan29
Posts: 1240
Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 8:04 pm
Location: Wirral

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by alan29 »

oopsorganist wrote: Sat May 26, 2018 8:24 am Laudate 305

Enemy of Apathy.
Used to sing that. Fine words - have to take care with the speed or those quavers can gabble.
User avatar
VML
Posts: 727
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2004 12:57 am
Parish / Diocese: Clifton Diocese
Location: Glos

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by VML »

How do the words 'She sits like a bird' personifying the Spirit as female, tie in with the creed, '...Conceived of the Holy Spirit,' ?
User avatar
Nick Baty
Posts: 2199
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:27 am
Parish / Diocese: Formerly Our Lady Immaculate, Everton, Liverpool
Contact:

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by Nick Baty »

Surely the Holy Spirit is beyond gender pronouns.
oopsorganist
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by oopsorganist »

Yes Nick
but we would have......
The Lady, the giver of life.
uh oh!
oopsorganist
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by oopsorganist »

I mean in the Nicene Creed.
uh oh!
oopsorganist
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by oopsorganist »

Obviously the Holy Spirit is female.
Jesus is male we are fairly sure.
And God is always the Father figure.
Therefore.
The Spirit must be female!
Or what happens to concepts of justice. (Never mind fairness and equality).
uh oh!
oopsorganist
Posts: 788
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 9:55 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Hymns for Confirmation?

Post by oopsorganist »

Alternatively we could just assign she for he in everything liturgical, from now and for the next 2000 years so as to address imbalance.
uh oh!
Post Reply