Is Dan Schutte's hymn "Here I Am, Lord" appropriate for Mass?

[Phemie]

It’s about God, not you. He is the Lord of Sea and Sky.
If you don’t like the song fine.
It’s almost never sung anymore anyway.

Maybe not in your parish.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

We use Gather Australia.

That’s our official hymn book

 

[phil19034]

The Church used to patronize Palestrina and Mozart. Now, Dan Schutte.

I would rather have Mozart over almost every living composer today (both for Church and secular music)

 

[Autumn-Smoke]

I love that song, “Here I Am, Lord” and am always glad when I’m not the reader right after that’s been sung…
it chokes me up and brings me to tears every time. I sing those words from my heart and give my life anew to God.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Sorry – I meant that how does Clare know that nobody uses it any more.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

In what world would paraphrased Scripture set to a beautiful, reverent tune be inappropriate for worship?

Trust me, when you add in the strummy guitars and wailing pop-style vocalists that are typical of your average Catholic parish, it doesn’t sound like that beautiful choral version. That choral version has even has another arranger involved.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

I always thought the song was referring to the story of a Samuel in the Bible where a God called him in the night…

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

It’s still sung in parishes a lot

 

[Shakuhachi]

Maybe we just find it hard to “hold all His people in our hearts”.

This isn’t about a song so much as a theology and spirituality. We want to be divided and we want to exclude, especially the LBGT.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

We want to be divided and we want to exclude, especially the LBGT.

Says who?

 

[Irishmom2]

I don’t know where you get any of that from. Not true at all.

 

[Irishmom2]

Not everyone feels that way. That doesn’t make them “wrong.”

 

[Cruciferi]

He Posts and Runs

 

[RandomAlias]

Says who?

I don’t know where you get any of that from. Not true at all.

@0Scarlett_nidiyilii and @Irishmom2, @Shakuhachi may be responding to two earlier posts by @gracepoole in which she wondered why @Maxirad (our absentee OP) started this thread. She is aware that Dan Schutte and this song have been attacked (online/verbally, not in person) by people who might be characterized as divisive and exclusionary.

 

[twf]

Little Samuel and it was the old priest Eli. St Elijah came later .

 

[Entwhistler]

Schubert’s by far.

 

[TheLittleLady]

In these parts it is sung at least once a month in Mass, it is sung at every Confirmation, First Communion, Ordination, large “festival” Mass.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Have you read the original lyrics as set by Schubert? They’re interesting:
Storck’s translation used by Schubert “Hymn to the Virgin” by Sir Walter Scott[6]

Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild,
Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen,
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hin wehen.
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen,
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind.
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen,
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Unbefleckt!
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeckt
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken.
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft,
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen,
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Reine Magd!
Der Erde und der Luft Dämonen,
Von deines Auges Huld verjagt,
Sie können hier nicht bei uns wohnen,
Wir woll’n uns still dem Schicksal beugen,
Da uns dein heil’ger Trost anweht;
Der Jungfrau wolle hold dich neigen,
Dem Kind, das für den Vater fleht.
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden’s prayer!
Thou canst hear though from the wild;
Thou canst save amid despair.
Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,
Though banish’d, outcast and reviled –
Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share
Shall seem with down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern’s heavy air
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;
Then, Maiden! hear a maiden’s prayer,
Mother, list a suppliant child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! stainless styled.
Foul demons of the earth and air,
From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.
We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden’s prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!

Ave Maria (Schubert) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JulianN]

I love Ave Maria. But I sure can’t sing it. Here I am Lord is much easier.

 

[JanetF]

TheLittleLady11m pianistclare
In these parts it is sung at least once a month in Mass, it is sung at every Confirmation, First Communion, Ordination, large “festival” Mass.

Here (St. Louis) too! I like it even if others think it’s cheezy. I also like Eagle’s Wings and Be Not Afraid, so