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It's a funeral hymn alright. Here's the refrain:
And he will raise you up on eagles wings
bear you on the breath of dawn
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of His hand.
I'd veer away from this one. Also usually makes a lot of people cry. Beautiful song in the correct setting.
I am catholic (although my FI is not and we are still making our own ceremony decision!), and I can say that while "On Eagle's Wings" is a very lovely hymn, it is definitely a funeral song. I have heard this song at least five funerals I have attended. Can't say for others, but if I heard this at a wedding I would think it was very strange.
Gorgeous song, but definitely for funerals. My mother cries hysterically every time it is played, not good for a wedding! :-)
lol crap. Sorry FI... I tried :(
Probably not a good idea because there's also been a lot of funerals in his Catholic family over the past 3 years. Thanks for the input bee's
Congrats on your engagement! : )
Hmmm... my favorite Catholic hymns are typically associated with different parts of the mass, like "One Bread, One Body" or "Gather Us In", so that probably won't work for for you all.
What about "Be Not Afraid" - don't worry - it sounds like something funny to sing at a wedding, but it's a very well-known and popular song, and it's beautiful.
Good luck!
You've jogged my memory... I've thought of a few more great hymns that I love
1) Here I Am Lord (a very Catholic song)... contemporary... very pretty
2) Let there be Peace on Earth... probably really nice for a wedding
3) City of God
All of these are (I think) very recognizable Catholic songs (at least, I have heard them many times in many Catholic masses in Catholic churches across the U.S.). So they'd all probably work, just depends on finding one you like. Be Not Afraid and Here I Am Lord are my favorites.
We used Where There is Love by Haas, Blest Are They by Haas, Ave Maria by Schubert, The Greatest Gift by Marchindo (you can find this on youtube), and Here I am Lord by Schutte. We had our wedding in a church and all music was played on an organ with a soloist. I am sure the songs would be as pretty played by strings. You can also play Let There Be Peace on Earth, A Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter, How Great Thou Art, You Are Mine, or the Prayer of St. Francis. I hope this helps.
If you are only doing one song, maybe do something more original than Ave Maria. It gets used a lot. I cannot tell you the amount of people who think they can do that song justice but end up falling flat.
dusty_shale_sophia.jpg (5.7 KB, 36 downloads) 1 year old
I actually have heard On Eagle's Wings at a wedding, but also at pretty much every funeral I've ever attended, including my father's and my brother's. Definitely wouldn't want it for my wedding!
We're going with older hymns, ourselves.
Processional: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Offertory: Lord of all Power
Communion: (1) For the Beauty of the Earth (2) Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Signing Register: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Recessional: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (tune is Ode to Joy)
Haha ... FI said something about On Eagles Wings and I totally was put off because to me, it is a funeral hymn. Also (in response to a previous suggestion) Here I am Lord is also VERY common at funerals as well.
I'd say "I Have Loved You - You Are Mine" is good. You may also want to consider "Because the Lord is my Shepard" or "Sing A New Song"
I was raised Catholic and "On Eagle's Wings" was my favorite song as a kid. I remember singing it at regular masses all the time. Of course, I can see why it would be a good funeral song as well.
I second GaBGal's choices, but would also like to add the Prayer of St. Francis. There are several versions, but the basic lyrics can be found here:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/prayer-of-saint-francis-lyrics-choir.html
Eagle's Wings -- Funeral song. My church used to play it a lot in regular masses, but more recently it seems to be used in funeral masses. You've goten some really good suggestions from the other posters.
Yes - although it's one of my favorite hymns, it makes me cry everytime I hear it. We have had it played at regular masses as well, but it is mainly used for funerals. Very nice suggestions here - I second Prayer of St. Francis. :-)
In these posts I see three songs that I will always and forever associate with funerals: Here I am Lord, Be Not Afraid and On Eagle's Wings - it's like I've heard them at almost every funeral I've ever been to and they bring tears to my eyes!
One song I would suggest is "When Love is Found" - pretty tune, lovely lyrics - very nice for a wedding.
i loved "on eagles wing" growing up! even though it's played at funerals, i think you can still play it at your wedding.
I definitely associate that song with funerals. One of my favorite songs from back in my Catholic school days is "Canticle of the Sun" - very happy & upbeat. I haven't been to Mass in a while, and I'm not having a Catholic wedding, so I'm not sure if this song is allowed/en vogue for weddings - but you might want to check it out.
I'm not Catholic, but that song is popular in our (Lutheran) church both for regular services and funerals. Our church choir made a CD several years ago, and that song was on it with my brother singing a solo part. We used the song at his funeral in '07 and on the photo montage my parents just had made in memory of him. I THOUGHT about using the song as a tribute to him (and to other family members who have passed) during our wedding, but I didn't see myself making it through it without bawling like a baby. While I don't think it should be exclusively a funeral song, it doesn't exactly say "wedding" to me.
my favorite hymn is All That is Hidden.
Chorus:
All that is hidden will be made clear.
All that is dark now will be revealed.
What you've heard in the dark, proclaim in the light.
What you've heard in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
Here's a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3hkmFu1JCM
The version is a little slower than I usually hear it. But it's the best version I could find.
It's a traditional funeral hymn, yes. BUT just like black dresses, it would be perfectly fine in the wedding. (Personally, I think it would be great; it's like you, are a couple, are being blessed and supported by God -- or, at least, that's how I see it reading the refrain posted.)
The only problem you might run into is that people on the Catholic/traditional side would be put-off, and maybe confused and snarky.
It is traditionally used as a funeral hymn! Irrespective of it's original intent, it is now associated w/funerals. It would be the wrong choice, I think.
Here I am Lord is a nice one. What about The Summons? I'm not sure all Catholic Churches permit it [years ago they didn't permit Ave Maria so times do change thigns] Our local church does allow it.
The Summons "If you come and follow me and I will call your name...". It's clearly about Christ calling us to discipleship, so the Catholics will know; but, non Catholics and lapsed Catholics might think it's a love song....so if it is permitted it may work for you. The tune is a Scottish folk tune. It is a very catchy tune!
The words are on line if you google it. It's from the Iona Community in Scotland.
All of the Catholic guests will associate it with a funeral. I am not even Catholic, but when I hear it I start crying thinking back to all the Catholic funerals I have been to.
I am doing the same thing for my fiance. We are getting married in my Greek church but I wanted to recognize his faith with Catholic hymns. My bridal party is walking down to the Prayer of St. Francis (Make Me a Channel of your Peace). Look up the version on iTunes by Anthony Vento or Job Sarta.
... I had NO idea this was a funeral song. Seriously. We sang it every week at my Methodist church, so now I'm just confused! Huh, learn something new every week.
Wow, I am Catholic and "On Eagles Wings" is one of my favorite, but I guess I never really associated it with funerals.
I also like "Be Not Afraid". I have thought about using it for our service, because although the lyrics are supposed to be Jesus telling you that he will protect you whereever you go, I think that it can be translated differently into together, you will lead each other. "Be not afraid, I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest."
I also like "City of God" - it's a gathering song - very bright, but I think it might be good for a recessional. It talks about the community building and I think that might be a good reflection for all the people involved in building the wedding and marriage.
I'm actually really surprised he is agreeing to get married outside the Catholic church. You can have a Catholic wedding without having the full mass. We are having a full mass because we are both born and raised Catholic.
You and I have so much in common! We are date twins AND both of our FI's was On Eagles Wings to play... YES IT IS A FUNERAL SONG!!! And if you invite a decent amount of Catholics, they will think it is strange for that song to be played.
ave maria is one of my favorite songs to hear at a wedding. it is one of those songs where you can play the instrumental and it is equally beautiful and recognized.
I'll be having a Catholic Mass & one song I want to have played is The Servant Song by Richard Gillard. This song makes me want to cry everytime we sing it at mass. I think its a really beautiful song. I think it fits the relationship & bond my FI & I want to have. I think I'm suggesting it to the FI as the song to e played during the lighting of the unity candle. I've put the lyrics below.
1. Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
2. We are pilgrims on a journey, we are trav’lers on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
3. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
4. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through.
5. When we sing to god in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
6. Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.
Oh, gosh! @Charmedlife I was about to suggest that!
I heard it over Easter and I literally took the program so that I would remember what song it was! I'm thinking of using it during the presentation of the gifts... because I don't know if we're going to do a unity candle. It would be a great song for that too though!
I'm also in love with Matt Maher's "Set me as a seal." I want to see if I could possibly use it as the psalm as it's based on scripture.
_______________________
Set me as a seal on your heart. Set me as a seal on your soul. For strong as death is love, unyielding as the grave. Nothing will quench its flame, nothing will quench its flame.
Kiss me, my love, that your name be on my lips. You intoxicate my beingwith the fragrance of your presence.
How beautiful you are, my darling. Show me your face, let me hear your voice. Sweet as the dew in the early morn, like a lily among the thorns.
I looked for you, the one my heart loves. I looked for you, but did not find you. I searched through the night until I rested in your sight. Now, I will never let you go.
You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes. Your lips so sweet, adorned with honey. My hands, they drip with myrrh.
_____________________
As for "On Eagles Wings" it is played during Sunday masses, but it's more appropriate for a funeral. That and "Be not Afraid." I've heard both at funerals of classmates and close friends and it definitely reminds me of their funerals when I hear them :-/ Oh... and they are both usually on the funeral homes "track list" for Catholic's.... you know the instrumental music they play in the background at viewings?
@KLP2010- Do you know what psalm that is based on? I'd like to look it up.
It's actually not based on a Psalm but on the "Song of Songs" which is basically a poem (like the psalms) based on the love between Christ and his Church.
I'm not Catholic, but we sing a rendition of it in my denomination. I've never thought about it being a funeral hymn, though. I think it's from Isaiah 40:31:
"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."
Aww thanks for all your advice ladies!!
@Mrs. Louboutin: Cute! There's only going to be about 15 catholics there, but I might run it by the head honcho (my FMIL) and see what she thinks.
RecessionistaBride I just got married in the Catholic church last month and when we met with our singer beforehand he had suggested "On Eagles Wings" but before he could finish talking I was already shaking my head no, not because I consider this song a funeral piece but because it always makes me cry.
May I suggest "The Prayer"??? You can hear different versions of it on-line by doing a search. My favorite version is by Josh Groban and Andrea Boccelli. It's such a beautiful song. My singer and his wife sang it while the offeratory gifts were bring brought up and it was beyond awesome.
It's sung in both English and Latin. Here are the words:
I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise in times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way.
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
La luce che tu dai
nel cuore restera
a ricordarci che
l'eterna stella sei.
I pray we'll find your light,
and hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
remind us where you are..
Nella mia preghiera
quanta fede c'e.
Lead us to a place ?
Let this be our prayer
when shadows fill our day
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza,
un mondo di giustizia e di speranza.
Ognuno dia una mano al suo vicino,
simbolo di pace...di fraternita.
La forza che ci dai
e desiderio te
ognuno trovi amor
intorno e dentro se.
Let this be our prayer,
just like every child.
We ask that life be kind
and watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer,
just like every child.
Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che hai acceso in noi
sento che ci salverai...
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I'm not Catholic, but my FI is. We're not having our wedding ceremony in the Catholic church (oh boy was that a heated decision)... I wanted to honor his religion by having the strings play some of his favourite Catholic hymns. His favorite is "On Eagle's Wings" but I heard someone say that's a funeral hymn! Ahh.. its a beautiful hymn and I never would have thought it was a funeral song.
Could we still use this song, or would our Catholic guests laugh & think it's odd? Any suggestions on other pretty Catholic hymns?