The Shrine of St. Cecilia - The Harptones

[Path_Finder]

youtube.com/watch?v=EN9rDqGMOn8

I enjoy this, there are other versions as well on youtube, versions by Faron Young, Vaughn Monroe, the Andrews Sisters and probably others. I also know of another doo wop song that is “kind of” Catholic. Since people may not know of these songs as I did not, I thought I’d post it.

I say it is “kind of” Catholic because I’m not sure if the lyrics always bear that out, perhaps saying it has a Catholic Theme might be better.

Lovely song, all the same.

The Shrine of St. Cecilia

Our home is a shambles, all I treasured has gone
The town seems deserted, everyone’s so forlorn
A storm came from up above but somehow it missed
The shrine of Saint Cecilia

The bells in the chapel never ring anymore
The clock in the steeple can’t tell time as before
But up on the hillside, stands a place heaven blest
The shrine of Saint Cecilia

Each day at eventide
When I seek haven from my daily care
You’ll find me by her side
It seems so peaceful there

I kneel in my solitude and silently pray
That heaven will protect you, dear, and there’ll come a day
The storm will be over and that we’ll meet again
At the shrine of Saint Cecilia

Each day at eventide
When I seek haven from my daily care
You’ll find me by her side
It seems so peaceful there

I kneel in my solitude and silently pray
That heaven will protect you, dear, and there’ll come a day
The storm will be over and that we’ll meet again
At the shrine of Saint Cecilia

At the shrine of Saint Cecilia

lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/t/theshrineofstcecilia.shtml

Another song that is a bit in the same mode is called “St. Therese of the Roses” as well. I may post this one at a later date.

 

[johnnyc176]

I also know of another doo wop song that is “kind of” Catholic.

Couple of other Catholic/doo wop connections…

The Bells of St. Mary’s - The Drifters

In the Still of the Night by The Five Satins was recorded in the Saint Bernadette Catholic school (New Haven, Ct.) basement in 1956

 

[McCartney]

St Cecilia died around 177 AD. Her body is the oldest ever known to be incorrupt. St is the patron saint of music.

 

[Path_Finder]

Couple of other Catholic/doo wop connections…

The Bells of St. Mary’s - The Drifters

In the Still of the Night by The Five Satins was recorded in the Saint Bernadette Catholic school (New Haven, Ct.) basement in 1956

Thanks to all for the notes, thanks JohnnyC176 for this very informative answer.

Perhaps, I can find more to add onto this thread at a later date

and as I said, St. Therese of the Roses is another good one.

youtube.com/watch?v=sbXbYUNYxMg

It is sometimes sung at weddings, also, when one of the versions came out, the BBC banned it.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Therese_of_the_Roses

In the United Kingdom a version was recorded by the singer Malcolm Vaughan and reached #3 on the Hit Parade. Its success was helped following a controversy involving the BBC when, in October 1956 Vaughan had been scheduled to appear on BBC TV’s Off The Record to promote the release of the song, but had the invitation withdrawn after a BBC committee decided that it was unsuitable for broadcast. The reason given was that “the lyric is contrary both to Roman Catholic doctrine and to Protestant sentiment.”[1] The resulting controversy coupled with airplay on Radio Luxembourg ensured the record’s success. As well as peaking at #3, it stayed in the charts for five months and ultimately sold half a million copies.[1]

Make of this what one wishes, here are the lyrics for one to read:

St. Therese of the roses
I will come to you each night
Near the altar in the chapel
I will pray by candlelight

St. Therese of the roses
Won’t you kindly hear my prayer
Give your blessings to my sweetheart
And the love that we both share

Won’t you guide us (guide us)
And protect us (protect us)
Through the years that lie ahead
Won’t you fill our hearts with sunshine
On the day that we are wed

You’re the little flower of Heaven
Guiding all who come to you
St. Therese of the roses
I know you’ll make my prayer come true

You’re the little flower of Heaven
Guiding all who come to you
St. Therese of the roses
I know you’ll make my prayer come true

lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/billy_ward_and_the_dominoes/st_therese_of_the_roses.html