Survey results are in - American Catholics identify songs that make a difference

A wide variety of liturgical songs has fostered and nourished the faith life of American Catholics, according to the results of a survey by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM). The online survey was conducted this past fall and drew responses from music directors, clergy, choir members, students, and ordinary parishioners.

"A surprising finding of the survey - and perhaps the most important one - was the lack of any clearly dominant choice," according to NPM President J. Michael McMahon. In fact, the three thousand survey respondents named 670 different songs as most important for their own life of faith.

The survey also revealed that U.S. Catholics are inspired by songs based on a diversity of musical styles, including traditional, contemporary, and others. Just over half of the top twenty-five songs were contemporary Catholic liturgical songs written after 1965, including On Eagle's Wings; Here I Am, Lord; and Be Not Afraid. About a quarter of the top twenty-five songs were traditional Catholic hymns that predate the Second Vatican Council, including Holy God, We Praise Thy Name; Ave Maria; and Panis Angelicus. A number of participants identified hymns from Protestant and Evangelical sources, including How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace.

Many respondents related their choice to an important celebration - the funeral of a loved one or friend, the baptism of a child, a wedding, or a religious profession. Funeral celebrations were by far the most commonly cited occasions on which a particular song made a lasting effect. A large number of participants chose songs that they recalled from childhood and that have continued to evoke and express a connection to faith and to the Church.

The following are the top twenty-five songs identified by respondents to the NPM survey as making a difference in their own lives of faith.

1 On Eagle's Wings

2 Here I Am, Lord

3 Be Not Afraid

4 You Are Mine

5 How Great Thou Art

6 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

7 Amazing Grace

8 All Are Welcome

9 Prayer of St. Francis

10 Ave Maria

11 We Are Called

12 Let There Be Peace on Earth

13 I Am the Bread of Life

14 The Summons

15 Panis Angelicus

16 The Servant Song-Gillard

17 Pescador de Hombres

18 Servant Song-McCargill

19 Shepherd Me, O God

20 Ave Verum Corpus

21 Lord of the Dance

22 One Bread, One Body

23 Tantum Ergo

24 Hosea

25 Pange Lingua