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