by Vincent | Apr 9, 2012 | General Interest, Religion, Songs, Video Clips
Erin Korves, a friend in Washington, sent me the sheet music for this song last week. Sadly I can’t read music at all but a YouTube search brought the song and Erin’s intention behind it to life! The introduction had taken place. Thanks Erin. Thought I’d share the song here for Holy Week 2012. There are few versions of it on YouTube but I like this one because it’s “live” and because the composer tells us something of its writing. I always like when that happens.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIndrry40Ks]
LYRICS
The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin’ through
To drag us all away
And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers’ feet
But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she’d been
She said they might have moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone’s been rolled away
And now His body isn’t there
We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they’d taken Him
Was more than I could tell
Oh something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn’t lift me very high
‘Cause I’d seen them crucify him
Then I saw him die
Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I’d promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn’t be the same
But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried
Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I’d ever had
Just melted into peace
He’s alive yes He’s alive
Yes He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive yes He’s alive
Oh He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive yes He’s alive
Hallelujah He’s alive
He’s alive and I’m forgiven
Heaven’s gates are open wide
He’s alive He’s alive He’s alive
I believe it He’s alive
Sweet Jesus
by Vincent | Apr 8, 2012 | General Interest, Reflections, Parish and Diocese, Religion, Photography, Video Clips
Happy Easter to you all. I’ve one more “thought” to go on Lent 2012 and might get to that later. Apart from about three days, managed to keep it going for the Lent! Thanks for your feedback and comments.
We had Mass this morning at Urlaur Abbey. It was a lovely morning – no sunshine admittedly – and people gathered in great numbers. Some told me there may have been upwards of 400 people there. I really can’t say for sure but there was a mighty gathering. Thanks be to God for that.
After Mass I saw a boat on the shore and was going to take a photo of it when I saw people walking towards it. A family! They told me they had come across the lake for the Mass. I thought that was so special and would love to think those children will have that as a memory for the rest of their lives. I went to take a photo of them but the camera was on video mode so there’s a short clip. I put it on YouTube just to mark the day. I’m sure the Lord would rejoice in the crowd there this morning and those who crossed the lake “to the other side”. He had done that himself more than once.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN5vl1QCpTU]
Thanks to Fr John Maloney for all his help in getting ready for the Mass and the many locals who prepared the Abbey surrounds etc. Anne Moriarty and a friend of her’s, Cathy, led us in song. All in all, it was a lovely start to Easter Sunday 2012. I want to say thanks as well to Jimmy Grennan, one of our older parishioners, who mentioned to me a few weeks ago “did you ever think of having a Dawn Mass at the Abbey?” I told Jimmy that I had but when I heard him say it, a whole new sense of purpose followed so, in many ways, it was his idea. Thanks for that.
A few people took photos so I’ll add some when they come to hand. For now, here’s one or two I took.
Some of the crowd gathering for Dawn Mass at Urlaur Abbey. 6am Easter Sunday.
Getting into the boat, he crossed to the other side .....
by Vincent | Mar 25, 2012 | Humour, Video Clips
We’re still in the month of March so this is ………….. worth a run!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEp9M8EtwDg]
by Vincent | Mar 22, 2012 | Songs, Humour, Video Clips
I was sent this last night and thought it might be worth an inclusion! Hard to believe this video clip was uploaded a week ago and has been viewed over a million times since then! I’m afraid I don’t have traffic like that!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wt824D1Bqg]
Do I dance? Alas, I have it in the head but can’t seem to get the message to the feet 🙂
by Vincent | Mar 17, 2012 | General Interest, Songs, Photography, Video Clips
I went into Ballaghaderreen earlier to the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade. There was a great turnout of people and of participants in the parade. Well done to all involved. I brought the camera and took a few photos. Well “few” is a bit of an understatement. When I came home and put them on the computer I realised I’d taken 411 🙂 There was nothing for it other than whittle them down a bit. That done, they’re posted on YouTube in four clips so if you have an interest, dip in and out of them. If not, no problem – Happy St Patrick’s Day. Below is a compilation of them all with “Through the eyes of an Irishman” sung by Dominic Kirwin.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJql3Q0ENLk]
This is a version of the video on Vimeo
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/38903820 w=500&h=375]
by Vincent | Mar 11, 2012 | General Interest, Reflections, Religion, Songs, Video Clips
When doing the newsletter for this weekend, I came across a web image of a mobile phone with a text message that ran “none b4 me srsly”!! It was a text message of the Commandment “I am the Lord your God you shall not put strange gods before me”. My fellow priest in the parish (John Maloney) wondered if all the commandments were available in this format. I did a bit of a search but didn’t find them. Anyway, decided to have a go so the video below is an attempt. We might come back to it at some stage and do it a bit better. For now, it’s a start ….. The song is “Try a little kindness” sung by Dominic Kirwin.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIErGLRoDA]
