Merciful Saviour, Hear Our Humble Prayer

Give Their Spirits Light and Endless Rest

Merciful Saviour, Hear Our Humble Prayer was written by the Sulpician Priest and author, Fr. Melvin L. Farrell. It is sung to the tune, Old 124th by the French Renaissance composer Louis Bourgeois (c.1510–1560). It is just one of several settings of the Psalms he wrote for John Calvin's Genevan Psalter of 1551. The words to Merciful Saviour, Hear Our Humble Prayer can be found in this example of the Liturgy for the Anglican Vespers for the Dead.


Tune: Old 124th

Lord God, We Give You Thanks for All Your Saints

In Every Word and Deed They Spoke of Christ

Lord God, We Give You Thanks for All Your Saints was written by Marcella Martin (b.1908). It is hymn #488 in the New Standard Version of Hymns: Ancient and Modern. It is set to the tune, Woodlands by British composer and educator, Walter Greatorex (1877-1949). For 38 years he was the Director of Music at Gresham's School in Holt, North Norfork. It was there in 1919 that he composed Woodlands to be sung in the school's chapel. It is better known as the setting for the hymn, Lift Up Your Hearts. Some of his more notable pupils include Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley, and W. H. Auden.


Tune: Woodlands

Praise We the Woman

Strong in Faith and Patience

Praise We the Woman is sung in the Common of Women Saints in the Divine Office. An example of it's use, along with full lyrics to the hymn can be found in the Optional Memorial of Blessed Josepha Hendrina Stenmanns. It is set to the tune, Morning Hymn by composer, Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon (1741-1808). It was written in 1785, at the request of an orphanage chaplain in London and was published in Hymns and Psalms used at the Asy­lum House of Ref­uge for Fe­male Or­phans. The French born Bar­thé­lé­mon spent most of his working life in England where he enjoyed a much celebrated career.


Tune: Morning Hymn