Godsing.

A Hymnal Supplement for the Great Jubilee Selected and edited by Rev. Stephen Somerville

Man has always celebrated great events in history with cries of joy and with music, and surely the advent of the third millennium era demands no less. Rev. Stephen Somerville's foreword to this Catholic hymnal supplement states, "This bright timeline must be worthily prepared by Christians. Since the time of the Apostles they have always sung Alleluia, always proclaimed the Death and Rising of Jesus with song, always repented of sin with the aid of solemn melody, always pleaded for heaven's help in every need with moving music, always cried out their hope for the future in exultant rhythms."

This hymnal, comprising fifty hymns, Masses, canons, and Latin chants, is published in an attractive and well illustrated 80-page full music edition, arranged for unison and choir singing, and also in a words-only 24-page pamphlet which can be pasted onto an inside cover of any existing hymnal. An audiocassette tape is also available. The author emphasizes that GODSING is not intended to be a complete hymnal, and apologizes if he has not included everyone's favourites.

GODSING, like Janus of mythology, not only looks back to the old hymns that we were singing before the second Vatican Council, but also looks forward to the requirements of the Church in the twenty-first century. Do you remember "O God of Loveliness", "O Lord, I Am Not Worthy" and "Soul of My Saviour"? You'll find them in GODSING, along with Fr. Frederick Faber's "Jesus My Lord, My God" and Cardinal Newman's "Lead Kindly Light". Devotion to the Sacred Heart and to our Blessed Mother may not be as widespread as it used to be, but many will recall those enthusiastic renditions of "To Jesus Heart All Burning", a hymn we always sang in the month of June, and, of course, there was the beautiful tribute to Mary as we offered the first flowers of the summer and sang "Bring Flowers of the Fairest" to the Queen of the May. Sentimental? Of course. But the heart is, after all, a symbol of love, and every mother likes to receive a gift of flowers from her child. Many of these old hymns were written during the nineteenth century to teach the basic tenets of the faith to people with little or no formal education. They use simple words but they still speak to us in the twenty-first century, and there certiainly is a place for them in our modern lifestyle.

Many of Fr. Somerville's own compositions are included in this hymnal. The new Millennium hymn, "In The Silence of the Godhead", with words by Fr. James Quinn, is a prayer celebrating the glory of our redemption. "The Lord Jesus Christ is Our Shepherd", the beautiful hymn that was commissioned to mark the Holy Father's visit to Canada in 1984, was written when Fr. Somerville was pastor of St. Margaret's Church in Midland. During the same time, in honour of the patron saint of that parish, he wrote "St. Margaret's Mass" and "Margaret Loved The Poor", also "The Ballad of Ste. Marie", a tribute to the Canadian Martyrs and the Shrine at Midland. His unfailing dedication to reverence of the life of the unborn shines through in "Little Baby Live" and "God is Love", hymns which have moved people of all faiths at pro-life rallies, rescues, and vigils. Indeed, Fr. Somerville has written, and still is writing, church music for all occasions and you will find a sample of his best in GODSING.

A hymnal would be incomplete without psalms, canons, litanies, and Gregorian chants, and GODSING includes these staples of traditional church music, some old, some new, and all deserving of a place in our modern-day liturgy. I think the highlight of this book, however, is the new Jubilee Mass, and I can't think of a better way to celebrate the new Millennium. This Mass is intended to be sung in unison, but the organ/piano accompaniment demonstrates the composer's skill when it comes to creating harmony. The introduction and opening bars of "Glory to God" bring to mind a trumpet fanfare, whereas the plaintive melody of "Lamb of God" would lend itself beautfully to a cello solo.

An interesting feature of this anthology is the fact that Fr. Somerville has included a descriptive introduction to each piece of music. If you have ever wondered just where, when, and why a certain hymn was written, these notes will not only satisfy your curiosity, but also help you to hear the words and music with new sense of appreciation and love.

GODSING may have been intended to supplement your parish hymnal, but I see a place for it in the class-room, and also in the home of anyone who loves to sing or play good Catholic hymns.