Breath of Heaven...would a Catholic enjoy the lyrics?

[Publisher]

“Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now
Be with me now

Chorus:
Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

 

[cooterhein]

This is a good question! I’m interested in seeing what people have to say.

I did a quick search to see what kinds of Mary songs would be at the top of a more official Catholic list. I wanted to look at the lyrics of some of those to get a comparison. I had a little trouble finding lyrics for some of them, but I did find something that surprised me a little. One of the songs on the list I’m looking at is Ave Maria, which probably has to be on any list like this. But the rendition on this list was done by Trish Foti Genco (Music Minister at a Jesuit parish for over 25 years) and when I looked at the rest of the songs on that particular CD, Breath of Heaven was included, along with Mary Did You Know. It was a Christmas CD and not necessarily for an exclusively Catholic audience, but I guess she didn’t mind performing the song and including it on her Christmas album.

I’m not Catholic, so I can’t speak for anyone else. But that is what I found.

 

[uxordepp]

I"m Catholic and I’ve been a music leader.

I’ve just given this a quick look and I don’t see anything in it that jumps out at me as contravening expressed Catholic belief. The “Do you wonder” line might be a problem, as I look at it again. God made the choice He did because it was the right one. I don’t think He had to second-guess Himself! It was her purity for which she was chosen, although I think she was also very wise.

I wouldn’t use it liturgically (at Mass, that is) as it is very much Mary-focussed, as opposed to Jesus-focussed, God-focussed, Scripture focussed. Actually a lot of Marian hymns and songs are not generally liturgically appropriate as originally written.

But that doesn’t mean a Catholic couldn’t enjoy it.

 

[anp1215]

Wow! It is so funny that you posted this because this is one of my favorite Christmas songs! Every year it comes on the radio station I listen to, which is evangelical/Protestant, and I absolutely love Amy Grant’s voice when she sings it. However, since I just began the conversion process this year, when I heard it this time around I was wondering too if it had any conflicting messages with Catholicism.

 

[beth40n2]

“Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your son

I have always loved this song and love Amy’s voice, but looking at the lyrics, there are several things I question. “And I wonder what I’ve done”. This is not Catholic. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, we have the fiat, that tells us her response.
Luke 1
46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now
Be with me now

Chorus:
Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven

“Must I walk this path alone?” I think Mary new she was not alone. She loved God. We know from tradition she was raise in the temple and was a very devout Jew.

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me

As Catholics we look at Mary as a type of tabernacle. She was the Immaculate Conception. Why would she wonder if someone else could take her place.

 

[anp1215]

I have always loved this song and love Amy’s voice, but looking at the lyrics, there are several things I question. “And I wonder what I’ve done”. This is not Catholic. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, we have the fiat, that tells us her response.
Luke 1
46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

I thought this was spoken at the Visitation…not the Annunciation.

 

[KathleenGee]

I turned on our local Catholic radio this afternoon, and guess what, that was the song they were playing…It is very beautiful…

I see the Breath of Heaven as being the Holy Spirit…its perspective and tempo would not fit liturgy.

The lyric of being afraid is not corresponding at all to the spirit of the season many non-Christians here are already beginning to experience…instead of fear – great peace descending on us.

Christ was coming to reveal Himself to Mary, and I can’t imagine what peace and holiness she was experiencing knowing He would soon be in her arms. I see rather supernatural peace, the presence of the angels, a great and growing spirit of joy…along with her great sense of mission about to unfold…

I think the world news is terrible, but the great consolation of this time is the coming of the Messiah.

 

[Adonia]

Of course a catholic would enjoy the lyrics! The first time I heard this song I pulled over to the side of the road with tears running down my face. This song is very beautiful. I also like immensely the album by Randy Travis and the song “Pray for the fish”. These type of songs touch the heart, no matter which rite of Christianity we follow.

 

[JustaServant]

I can literally count on one hand, in the over three years I have returned to the Church, how many times I have heard traditional Marian hymns sung (song I remember as a child). Yet Protestant hymns like this and “Mary did you know…” are sung regularily.
I long for the day when this ‘Spirit of Vatican 2’ vanishes, and we can return to sacred Catholic hymns again.

rant off

 

[Newbie2]

I have always loved this song and love Amy’s voice, but looking at the lyrics, there are several things I question. “And I wonder what I’ve done”. This is not Catholic. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, we have the fiat, that tells us her response.
Luke 1
46And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

“Must I walk this path alone?” I think Mary new she was not alone. She loved God. We know from tradition she was raise in the temple and was a very devout Jew.

As Catholics we look at Mary as a type of tabernacle. She was the Immaculate Conception. Why would she wonder if someone else could take her place.

That’s not what the lyrics mean. In the song, Mary would seem to be questioning why the Almighty would have chosen her, an insignificant person in their society, to carry the Lord. At least that’s my take on it.

Liturgically, as has been said, not a good choice. Otherwise, no problemo. I’ve always liked it. They symbolism of the term “Breath of Heaven” is marvelous.