No Greater Love - Joncas

This is a gentle hymn about sacrificial love. The words are based on John 15: 9-17.

It was written by American Roman Catholic priest and liturgical composer, Jan Michael Joncas (b. 1951) and first published in 1988 by GIA Publications.  It is title track of a Mass setting by Joncas.

The hymn has been translated to Spanish as No Hay Amor Más Grande, by Roman Catholic priest, Ronald F. Krisman, (b. 1946).

Hymn-books where it has been published in include:

• Hymnal Supplement, GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, USA, 1991, for the Lutheran Church in America
• Catholic Book of Worship III, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Ottawa, Canada, 1994
• Gather (3rd ed) - 2011 and  Comprehensive, 1994 and Comprehensive, Second Edition, 2004 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, USA
• Worship (4th ed.), 2011 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, USA
• Oramos Cantando We Pray In Song, GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, USA, 2013
• RitualSong: a hymnal and service book for Roman Catholics, 1996  and   RitualSong (2nd ed, 2016), GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago,, USA.

It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Joncas. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of Eb, the first few notes of the melody are B, E F_ FE F_ GE B,    with accompanying chords  Bb / Eb /  Fm  /  Eb.

Image adapted from PeakPx

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

Arranged for SATB with keyboard

Guitar edition

Examples

Singer with piano

Virtual choir with guitars and violin

Choir with (chamber?) orchestra - professional recording

Duet with piano

Choir with piano

Singer with organ

Singer with classical guitar

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Chorus:
There is no greater love, says the Lord,
than to lay down your life for a friend;
There is no greater love, no greater love,
than to lay down your life for a friend.

1. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my love ...

2. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete ...

3. You are my friends if you keep my commands; no longer slaves but friends to me ...

4. It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you, chose you to go forth and bear fruit ...

See more ...

• Hymns about love
• Hymns based on the Gospel of John

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Chorus:
There is no greater love, says the Lord,
than to lay down your life for a friend;
There is no greater love, no greater love,
than to lay down your life for a friend.

1. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Live on in my love.
You will live in my love if you keep my commands,
even as I have kept my Father's.

2. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours
and your joy may be complete.
Love one another as I have loved you:
This is my command.

3. You are my friends if you keep my commands;
no longer slaves but friends to me.
All I heard from my Father, I have made known to you:
Now I call you friends.

4. It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you,
chose you to go forth and bear fruit.
Your fruit must endure, so you will receive all you ask
the Father in my name.