O Sacrament Most Holy

This short refrain was published in the Raccolta (literally "Collection") - an Italian prayer book published in the 19th century. Its authorship and source of the subsequent translation into English are unknown.

Popular in Ireland, it is often there used with the tune in the sheet music shown below.

It is used as the chorus of the hymn "O Jesus we Adore Thee", sometimes published as "O Lord I am not Worthy", by Irvin Udulutsch, OFM Cap (1920- 2010)  

It was also used as the refrain of another hymn, attributed to Fr Jan Ligeza, while the 1966 People's Mass Book includes setting to a different tune by Belgian pianist and composer Marinus de Jong, (It is not clear which, if any, set of lyrics are used in this last work.)

With meter of 7.6.7.6.D, the tune that it is most commonly associated with is FULDA, but definitive information about the composer for this tune has not been found: there are various online references to:

• Sacred Melodies, Gardiner, 1815)
• Gebet-und Gesangbuch, 1891

The Veritas Hymnal published it with the tune ATTRACTA, which is attributed as Gaelic traditional.

Thine be the Glory

This Easter hymn was originally written in French as "À toi la gloire O Ressuscité" by Edmond Budry (1854-1932) and published in 1884.  

It was translated to English by Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939) in 1923, and published in 1925 by the World Student Christian Federation.

With meter of 10 11 11 11 with refrain, it is almost universally set to the tune MACCABEUS - adapted from an oratorio by G F Handel (1685-1759).

 

Circle of Friends

This is a children's hymn about friendship and inclusion.   

The author and composer are unknown.   If you have any information about them, please leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

The song is included in the primary school religious education curriculum in Ireland.

If you Believe and I Believe

This is a short worship song about the Holy Spirit, salvation / freedom and unity.

The words are on a Zimbabwean folk-song (the English translator is unknown), and the tune is a Zimbabwean adaptation of a traditional English folk-tune.

The original lyrics included the idea of a specific place (Zimbabwe etc.) being saved - but a more general form (set God's people free) is also used in many places.

The Peace of the Earth

This short worship song is adapted from a traditional Guatemalan song, La Paz de la Tierra.   The translator has not been confirmed, though several sources quote it as Christine Carson (b 1965).

Battle Hymn of the Republic (Mine eyes have seen the coming)

This hymn originated from the American Civil War.  It is often used as an American patriotic song, Today this provokes some discussion about its appropriateness for some situations.

It was written by American Unitarian pacifist, Country and western singer with backing singers and band and author of the the original 1870 pacifist Mothers' Day Proclamation, Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910).

With meter of 15 15 15 6 with refrain, the lyrics were written for a tune which was also used for abolitionist song "John Brown's Body" composed by William Steffe (1852). This tune has often been given the name BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC.   No instances have been found where the lyrics were set to other tunes.

Let's Celebrate - A grab-bag of spiritual ideas for Scouting

This interdenominational Christian book was published by the National Council of Boy Scouts of Canada in 1974.

It was compiled Rev Don Laing, at that time a minister of Bethel United Church in Saskatoon and vice-president of the National Council of Scouts, Canada, from materials he assembled for a Master's thesis.

As well as 32 English-language"songs for celebration" (ie hymns) which are listed below, the book has considerable sections about the role of religion in scouting, and ideas for programmes and services.   Some form of musical score is provided for almost all of these:  the level of detail varies widely.  The hymns were chosen for their "music, message and general appeal among children and young people" - but their appeal is not restricted to children.