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Before you play Catholic Christmas Songs, start with Catholic Advent Songs.
The good news is, in this post, we have prepared 55 Catholic Advent Songs that you will truly enjoy listening to.
Many Catholics treat Advent songs and Christmas songs as one. But the truth is–they aren’t.
Christmas songs celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, while Advent hymns prepare us to receive him.
That difference matters. Advent is a season of waiting, hope, and repentance. It begins four Sundays before Christmas, which this year means November 29. On the other hand, Christmas is celebrated on December 25.
But most people blend the two. Christmas carols start playing in stores weeks early.
That means many Catholics never learn Catholic Advent Music as well as themes behind it.
Catholic Advent hymns look in two directions. They remember Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem and look ahead to his second coming. Songs like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” carry this longing. On the other hand, Christmas Carols like “Joy to the World” carry the celebration that follows.
The church marks the difference in these other ways too. During Advent, the Church uses violet for all liturgical vestments, and sets Gloria aside at Mass until Christmas.
Understanding both seasons, and keeping them distinct, changes how we pray. It means we arrive at Christmas ready to celebrate, because we first took time to wait and prepare.
To make you more aware, in our list of songs, we have accompanied each song with its history, its words, and why the Church sings it. The songs are grouped by the four Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love, so you can choose music to match each week of the season.
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What Are Catholic Advent Songs?
Advent is the first season of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year. It lasts for four weeks, from the Sunday nearest November 30 until Christmas Eve, and it has a double purpose.
We remember the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, which is the Incarnation, and we prepare for His coming again at the end of time. The word itself comes from the Latin adventus, which means “coming.”
Catholic Advent songs are the hymns, chants, and modern songs that put these two ideas into music. The Church treats every liturgical season as having its own mood, and the music is one of the main ways that mood is created.
During Advent, the Mass leaves out the Gloria on Sundays, so that it can burst out again on Christmas night. Churches also tend to use instruments more sparingly. The result is a quieter, more expectant sound, much like the dark mornings of the season itself.
Catholic Advent Songs
Many parishes light four candles on the Advent wreath, and each one is often linked to a theme: hope, peace, joy and love. The Church’s own readings follow a slightly different path: the first Sunday calls us to stay awake, the second brings John the Baptist, the third is Gaudete Sunday (“Rejoice”), and the fourth turns to the Virgin Mary. The two fit well together, so the sections below follow the four candle themes and show where each song sits in the liturgy.
Songs of Hope
Hope is the theme of the first week. These songs look back at God’s promises to Israel, forward to Christ’s return, and into our own waiting. Many are also the best Advent songs about prophecy because they take their words straight from the prophets.
1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Veni Emmanuel)
This is one of the most popular Catholic Advent hymns from the O Antiphons, seven short prayers sung before the Magnificat at Evening Prayer from December 17 to 23. Each antiphon names Christ with a title from the Old Testament: Wisdom, Adonai, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of the Nations, and Emmanuel.
The hymn form, which turns them into verses, appeared in print in a Catholic collection in Cologne in 1710. John Mason Neale made the English translation that most of us sing. A nice detail: if you read the first letters of the titles backwards (Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia), they spell ero cras, “Tomorrow I will be there.”
2. Creator of the Stars of Night (Creator Alme Siderum)
This is one of the oldest Advent hymns in the Church and has been sung at Advent Evening Prayer for well over a thousand years. Its author is unknown. The words praise Christ as the creator of the stars who, “moved by pity,” came to save a world falling into ruin. It teaches the Incarnation in a few lines: the One who made the heavens became a child.
3. Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth (Veni Redemptor Gentium)
Written by St. Ambrose of Milan in the fourth century, it is among the earliest Christian hymns for which we know the author. Ambrose used it to defend the Church’s teaching that Jesus is truly God and truly man. Martin Luther later translated it into German, and Bach used that version in his cantatas.
4. Rorate Caeli
The title is Latin for “Drop down, ye heavens,” from prophet Isaiah (45:8). The chant asks the heavens to rain down Just Once, and the earth to open up and bring forth a Saviour. It’s sung in Advent, and in some countries, such as Poland, parishes hold “Rorate Masses” before dawn by candlelight in honour of Our Lady. It shows how Advent songs turn prophecy into prayer.
5. On Jordan’s Bank
Written in Latin by Charles Coffin in 1736 and translated into English by John Chandler, this hymn is about John the Baptist, who cried out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” It’s a hymn of self-examination, asking us to clear our hearts of what stands in the way of Christ.
6. Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Vox Clara Ecce Intonat)
This ancient Latin hymn is sung at morning prayer in Advent. It imagines a bright voice rousing us from sleep before the coming of Christ, the “Day Star.” The “voice” can be heard as both John the Baptist and the Church herself, calling us to wake up and repent.
7. Ecce Virgo (Behold, a Virgin)
The words come from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” This scripture is sung in the last days of Advent, and links the prophet’s promise with its fulfilment in Mary. It’s one of the clearest Advent songs about prophecy.
8. Come, Lord Jesus (Veni, Domine)
The cry “Come, Lord Jesus” ends the Bible, in Revelation 22:20, and the Aramaic form Maranatha (“Our Lord, come”) is one of the oldest Christian prayers (1 Corinthians 16:22). Many composers have set these words, and Taizé community’s simple, repeated chants, such as “Wait for the Lord” by Jacques Berthier, are very popular for quiet prayer. They are some of the best Advent songs for personal prayer, because their short refrains can be sung over and over until they become breathing.
9. O Come, Divine Messiah
A French carol, Venez, divin Messie, with words by the priest Simon-Joseph Pellegrin (1663–1745) and an English translation by Sister Mary of St. Philip. The world “in silence waits for the day when hope shall sing its triumph.” It is a favourite in Catholic hymnals and a good choice for the first two weeks.
10. Come, O Long-Expected Jesus
Written by Charles Wesley in 1744, this Methodist hymn is sung in many Catholic parishes today. It prays for Christ to free us from our fears and sins, and to be “the hope of all the earth.” It is usually sung to the Welsh tune Hyfrydol.
11. The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
A hymn translated from the Greek, it looks to Christ’s return in glory. It is gentler than most Advent hymns, describing the King’s coming as a “morning dawning,” and it is often used at the end of Mass in the first weeks of the season.
12. Soon and Very Soon
A gospel song by Andraé Crouch (1976), it sings of the day we will see the King. It is not a liturgical hymn, but it is an excellent bridge between Catholic and gospel Advent music, and it fits the “second coming” side of the season.
13. The Thrill of Hope
The Thrill of Hope is a contemporary worship song recorded by Christy Nockels. It is not part of the Catholic liturgical repertoire, but it fits well for the first week of Advent. The title refers to the line in “O Holy Night” about “a thrill of hope,” and the words borrow from Charles Wesley’s 1740 morning hymn “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies,” which praises Christ as the everlasting light.
It also uses two of Christ’s biblical titles: the “Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) and the “Dayspring from on high” (Luke 1:78), a verse the Church prays every morning in the Canticle of Zechariah. The chorus is simply a person waiting in hope, with a heart that has been “bound up by shame,” asking to be set free. “Dayspring” is also the title behind the O Antiphon Oriens, sung on December 21.
14. Beyond the Moon and Stars
Written and composed by Dan Schutte (born 1947), the American composer who is also known for "Here I Am, Lord," and published by Oregon Catholic Press (OCP). The tune takes its name from its first line, "Our eyes have longed to see." The song is about spiritual longing, living in darkness and the hope of divine light. Its title points to a God who is greater than the whole created universe and yet is coming close to us. It suits the first two weeks of Advent in parish Masses.
15. O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel
The first of the seven O Antiphons, sung at Evening Prayer on December 17, the day the Advent liturgy turns directly toward Christmas. It greets Christ as the Wisdom of God, who "reaches from end to end" and orders all things with gentleness (compare Sirach 24 and Wisdom 8:1), and asks Him to come and teach us the way of prudence. Christians have always connected this Wisdom with Christ, the eternal Word (John 1). It is a hopeful prayer: the One who ordered the world is willing to guide our small lives.
16. O Sapientia
The second O Antiphon, sung on December 18. "Adonai" is the Hebrew word for "Lord." The text remembers God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave the law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3 and 20), and it asks Him to come and save us "with outstretched arm." The English version listed on Hymnary.org was translated by A. J. B. Beresford Hope in 1846, as part of a hymn built from all the O Antiphons. The hope here is rooted in memory: the God who freed Israel from slavery can free us.
17. Audivi Vocem de Caelo
A Latin responsory text that has been set by many Renaissance composers, including Thomas Tallis, John Taverner, Duarte Lobo and Robert Shepherd. Please note that these settings were traditionally written for All Saints and for the feasts of virgin martyrs, so it is not an Advent piece by origin. We include it among the songs of hope because its message is about a voice from heaven announcing God's promise, and choirs often use it in Advent for the same reason. It is best for a choir with some experience.
18. Ready the Way
Composed by Bob Hurd in 1986 and based on Isaiah 40:3–4: Prepare the way of the Lord…every valley shall be lifted, and every mountain and hill made low. This is the prophecy that John the Baptist applies to himself, and it is read on the Second Sunday of Advent in Years B and C. This year, Year B, the Gospel for that Sunday comes from Mark and quotes it. It pairs well with "On Jordan's Bank" (song 5), and it is a good congregational song because of its clear refrain.
19. Awaken and Prepare Us
An Advent choral anthem with music by Mark Hayes and words by Herb Frombach, written for a mixed choir (SATB) and piano. It speaks of waiting, preparing our hearts, and the light of Christ, the saving Son and Emmanuel. It is a concert-style piece for a choir rather than a hymn for the whole congregation, so it is a nice choice for an Advent concert or a prelude.
20. Freedom Is Coming
A short, repeated call-and-response song in which a leader sings "Freedom is coming" and "Jesus is coming" and everyone answers "O yes, I know." The Scripture passages linked to it in hymnals give a good idea of its meaning: Psalm 114 (Israel set free from Egypt), Isaiah 61:1–4 (good news to the poor and liberty to captives, which Jesus read in the synagogue at Nazareth), Galatians 5:1 ("For freedom Christ has set us free") and Revelation 1:7 ("Behold, he is coming with the clouds"). It is easy to learn, which makes it useful with children and in prayer groups.
21. A Voice Cries Out
Written and composed by Michael Joncas (born 1951), the author of "On Eagle's Wings." The words are from Isaiah 40, which opens with "Comfort, comfort my people," and then speaks of a voice crying out in the wilderness. It captures the two sides of the Second Sunday of Advent: God's tender comfort and John the Baptist's call to change. Joncas' melodies are written for assemblies, so it works well in a parish.
22. All That Is Hidden
Written and composed by Bernadette Farrell, the British composer of "Christ, Be Our Light." Its Scripture source is Luke 12:2–3, where Jesus says that nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. In Advent, that sounds like hope: the light of Christ will bring all things into the open, and the darkness will not last. It makes a good reflective song for the end of the first week.
Songs of Peace
The second week’s theme is the peace Christ brings: peace in the world, in our hearts and in our relationships. These songs are quieter and more reflective.
23. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
The text comes from the ancient Liturgy of St. James, one of the oldest forms of the Mass, and was translated into English by Gerard Moultrie in 1864. It is usually sung to the French folk tune Picardy. The words call us to be silent and stand in awe before the King of kings coming among us in the Eucharist. In the West, it is often sung in Advent, and it is perhaps the most reverent hymn in this list.
24. In the Bleak Midwinter
The words are a poem by Christina Rossetti, published in 1872, and Gustav Holst composed the best-known tune, Cranham, in 1906. It is more of a Christmas carol, but its stillness suits the second week of Advent. Its final question, “What can I give Him, poor as I am?”, is a good question for the whole season.
25. Bethlehem Down
A choral piece written in 1927 by Peter Warlock, with words by Bruce Blunt. It imagines Mary and the child before the great events begin. It is a favourite with cathedral choirs, and its slow, glowing harmonies create a feeling of peace.
26. Magnificat
The Magnificat is Mary’s song of praise from Luke 1:46–55, sung every evening at Vespers. In Advent, it carries special weight because it is the voice of the person who waited most faithfully. Herbert Howells’ setting for Gloucester Cathedral (1946) is one of the most celebrated, and Catholics can sing the same text in the Church’s Evening Prayer.
27. Christmas Bells
This title usually refers to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” written during the American Civil War. Its message is that “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep,” and that peace on earth will come. Check which setting you are listening to, as there are several.
28. A Call to Blessing
Composed by Luke Mayernik, this song is based on the Canticle of the Three Young Men (Daniel 3:57–87), in which the whole of creation is called to bless the Lord: the angels, the heavens, the sun and moon, the seasons and all living things. The Church prays this canticle in the Liturgy of the Hours. The setting is a lively 6/8 call-and-response, with a cantor singing each call and the assembly answering. Its peace is the peace of a world in harmony, where everything that exists is turned toward God in praise. It works well as a gathering song during the second week of Advent.
29. Let the King of Glory Come
The words were written by Flora L. Best Harris (1850–1909), a Methodist bishop’s wife in the United States who wrote on Japanese themes and, in 1891, translated the tenth-century travel diary Tosa Nikki. Her hymn is based on Psalm 24, where the gates are told to lift up their heads so that “the King of glory” may enter.
She sets it at dawn: morning light spreads over the mountains and drives away “the night of sin,” desert flowers bloom where He walks, and the blind receive their sight (compare Isaiah 35). Each verse ends with a refrain calling the nations to crown Him. It is a hymn of peace through victory: the King’s arrival brings light, not conflict. Please note that the author was a Methodist, so this is a Protestant hymn that Catholic hymnals have borrowed.
30. Regnantem Sempiterna
A medieval Gregorian chant, described in the source you found as a sequence for the Second Sunday of Advent. A sequence is a chant that was sung after the Alleluia and before the Gospel. The text invites the faithful, who owe everything to their Maker and have waited for Him “from all eternity,” to hail the King, while the heavenly multitudes sing joyfully at the sight of His glad face.
The peace here is the quiet joy of finally seeing the One we have waited for. This is a specialist piece for a scholar or a good choir, and the title is spelled differently in different sources (Regnantem sempiterna / sempiternam), so check the spelling in the edition you use.
31. Benedixisti Domine
“Lord, you have blessed your land.” These words come from Psalm 85 (numbered 84 in older Latin Bibles) and are the traditional Offertory chant for the Third Sunday of Advent. The psalm remembers that God has forgiven the sins of His people and restored their fortunes, and a few verses later it says that “justice and peace shall kiss.” That is the heart of Advent peace: peace comes with forgiveness. The setting you found is by Oreste Ravanello (1871–1938), an Italian organist and composer of church music.
32. Adjuvabit Eam
The Latin words, “God will help her; God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved,” come from Psalm 46, and the Church applies them to the Virgin Mary on her feasts. The version you found was recorded by the Benedictines of Mary, a community of nuns, and it adds English verses that look forward to the coming of Christ: the rod of Jesse blossoming, the crooked road made straight (Isaiah 11 and 40), and Mary waiting for the Child “beneath her heart.” The peace is Mary’s: a steady trust that stays calm when “hardened hearts” have no room for her Son. It is a good song for the last week of Advent.
33. Hymn to the Creator of Light (Lucis Creator Optime)
This Latin hymn is traditionally attributed to St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604). It has been sung at Sunday evening prayer (Vespers) for centuries. The words praise God as the maker of light, who on the first day of creation separated light from darkness. Sunday is also the day of the Resurrection, so the hymn links creation and new creation. In Advent, it reminds us that the light of Christ comes into a world that was first made through light. It is a calm, evening hymn and suits quiet prayer at the end of the day.
34. Come, Jesus, Prince of Peace
Written by the Korean composer Geonyong Lee in 1988 and translated into English by Marion Pope around 1990. It is widely sung as a prayer for peace and reconciliation, and it is associated with the divided Korean peninsula. Its Scripture links are strong: Isaiah 2:4 (swords into ploughshares), Isaiah 9:6 (“Prince of Peace”), Micah 4:3, and Ephesians 2:11–22, in which Christ breaks down the wall of hostility between peoples. It also draws on passages about the Church as one body (1 Corinthians 12:12; Galatians 3:26–29; Ephesians 4:1–16). It is an excellent hymn for the Second Sunday of Advent and for any prayer for peace.
35. Christ, Circle Round Us
Written by Dan Schutte (born 1947) as a gathering song. Its verses are based on the O Antiphons, and the melody is adapted from the chant Salve Regina. The central image is of Christ surrounding us like the circle of the Advent wreath, so it works well for blessing the wreath. There are enough verses to use different ones on each Sunday of the season, and the refrain is arranged for the SABT choir to support the whole congregation. Its peace is protection: we are held in a circle of Christ’s presence.
36. God of the Watching Ones
A sacred choral anthem, not a congregational hymn. The words are by Herb Frombach (who also wrote the words of “Awaken and Prepare Us,” song 19) and the music is by Lee Dengler. It was written with an Advent theme of longing, waiting and peace, though it suits other services too.
The text calls on God as the God of “the watching ones, the waiting ones,” and of the suffering, the angels and “the child in the womb,” and asks for “healing peace.” Its closing images, the flower of Jesse and the rose “yet to bloom,” recall the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1 and the carol “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (Love, song 5).
Songs of Joy
The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for “rejoice.” The Mass begins with the words of St. Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4), and many parishes light a pink candle. Even in the middle of a penitential season, the Church says that the One we are waiting for is very near.
37. Gaudete
The best-known Advent song of joy is a sixteenth-century Latin carol from the collection Piae Cantiones (1582). Its refrain says “Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary.” It’s a good song for the third week, and choirs love its rhythm.
38. Joy to the World
Isaac Watts based this hymn on Psalm 98 and published it in 1719. It was written about Christ’s coming as King, which makes it fit Advent as well as Christmas. It’s the one song on this list you will probably hear in every parish.
39. Holy Is His Name
A paraphrase of the Magnificat by John Michael Talbot. It puts Mary’s joy at the news from the angel into a gentle, singable melody, and it’s popular in Catholic parishes in the third and fourth weeks.
40. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow and Children
Two African American spirituals sung at Christmas time. They bring the energy of gospel music into the season, and they work well for children’s choirs and community gatherings.
41. Bless the Lord, My Soul
This is a Taizé chant based on Psalm 103; it is a short, repeated song of thanks. It is useful when you want joy without a lot of words.
42. Hymnis Angelicis
The Latin title means “With angelic hymns.” The information you found describes the chant’s source and not its words: this melody is a hymn taken from the Liber Responsorialis of 1895 and modelled on the Antiphonale Monasticum of Solesmes (1934, page 839), and it is sung to the tune of the hymn Te Joseph celebrent. The Solesmes books are the standard collections of Gregorian chant used by the Benedictine monks of that abbey.
The chant was transcribed by Dominique Crochu and added to the GregoBase chant database in February 2020. The title suggests the song of the angels over Bethlehem, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace” (Luke 2:14), which is why it can sit among the songs of peace. It is a plainchant for a schola or a trained choir, and it is not a modern congregational hymn. Before you publish, please read the Latin text in GregoBase and add one line about what it says, because I could not confirm that from the source alone.
Songs of Love
The fourth week is about God’s love, shown in sending His Son, and Mary’s loving “yes.” For this reason, the Virgin Mary is at the centre of the last songs of Advent. These are the songs that answer the question “Which songs are specifically about Mary during Advent?”
43. Alma Redemptoris Mater
This ancient antiphon, traditionally credited to the monk Hermann of Reichenau (1013–1054), is sung at the end of night prayer (Compline) from the First Sunday of Advent until February 2. It greets Mary as the one who “bore your holy Creator” and asks for her help. It is one of the most important Marian songs of the season.
44. Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
The Hail Mary combines angel Gabriel’s greeting (Luke 1:28) and Elizabeth’s words (Luke 1:42). Countless composers have set it to music, including Schubert, Bach and Gounod, and Biebl. Hearing it in Advent reminds us that the Incarnation began with a conversation between the angel and the young woman.
45. Angelus ad Virginem
A thirteenth-century carol that retells the Annunciation, with Gabriel greeting Mary and her reply. It was so well known in medieval England that Chaucer mentions it in The Miller’s Tale. It is a good choice if you like early music.
46. Gabriel’s Message
This Basque carol, in an English version by Sabine Baring-Gould, retells the Annunciation in a simple, almost conversational style. It ends with Mary’s response: “Most highly favoured lady.”
47. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
A German carol that first appeared in print in 1599, with a harmonisation by Michael Praetorius in 1609. The “rose” is both Christ and a symbol of Mary, drawn from Isaiah’s prophecy of a shoot coming from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). It is another example of an Advent song that carries prophecy and Marian devotion together.
48. I Sing of a Maiden
It’s an anonymous English poem from the fifteenth century, set by many composers in the twentieth century, including Patrick Hadley and Benjamin Britten. It compares Mary’s silent receiving of Christ to dew falling on grass, which is a lovely picture of the Incarnation.
49. Hail Mary: Gentle Woman
It’s a well-loved parish song by Carey Landry (1975). Its simple verses invite the congregation to imagine Mary’s trust and humility. It’s one of the most common contemporary Marian songs in Catholic parishes.
50. O Sanctissima
This is a Marian hymn associated with a Sicilian melody, praising Mary as the “most holy” and “most loving” Virgin. It is often sung in Advent and in May.
51. Servant Song
Richard Gillard's "Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You" (1977) is about love in action. It fits the fourth week well, because the love of God shows itself in serving others.
52. Praeparate Corda Vestra
The words, “Prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve him alone,” come from 1 Samuel 7:3, where the prophet Samuel calls Israel to turn back to God and put away false gods. The text is a Matins responsory, one of the responses sung after the readings in the Church’s night prayer, and the setting you found is by Carlo Rossini.
The responsory continues with a promise: the Lord will free His people from the hands of their enemies, and “He shall give His goodness, and our land shall give her fruit,” which echoes Psalm 85:12. This is the love we offer in response to God’s love, a heart that serves Him alone. It matches the call of John the Baptist to “prepare the way of the Lord,” and it is a good short text for a prayer on the second or third Sunday.
53. Maria Walks amid the Thorn
An old German carol, thought to go back to the seventeenth century, although the earliest printed version dates from the mid-1800s. It tells of Mary walking through a thorn forest, a place of pain, and as she passes, roses bloom among the thorns. In the best-known version, the refrain is the prayer Kyrie eleison (“Lord, have mercy”), and Mary is carrying the unborn Jesus, which explains why new life appears wherever she goes.
The image holds two things together: it admits that the road is painful, and it promises that something better will grow from it. Many people also read the thorns as a hint of the crown of thorns to come. The rose connects it to “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (Love, song 5) and to Isaiah’s prophecy of a shoot from the stem of Jesse.
54. Like the Dawning
The hymn was written by Frederick William Faber (1814–1863), an English priest. He began as an Anglican, became a Catholic in 1845, and joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in London, where he wrote many hymns, including “Faith of Our Fathers.” “Like the Dawning” is both an Advent hymn and a Marian hymn. It imagines what Mary felt in her last days of waiting.
Faber compares her expectation to the dawn on mountain tops, to moonbeams breaking through a cloudy night, and to a secret told by angels that is slowly becoming known on earth. He then thinks about the grace that has filled her since the angel’s greeting, “like a river overflowing,” and about the wonder of carrying the “Light of Light” in her womb. The last verse addresses Mary directly and asks her to show us the face of her Son. That is a very Catholic idea: Mary does not keep Christ to herself but leads us to Him.
55. Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing
How to Use Catholic Advent Songs
You can use this music in three settings, and the right songs for each are a little different.
For personal prayer. Choose short, repeated songs that you can pray rather than just listen to. Taizé chants such as “Wait for the Lord,” “Come, Lord Jesus” refrains, and the Latin Alma Redemptoris Mater are all good. Try playing one in the morning before the day begins, or lighting a candle and listening to Rorate Caeli during the calm night.
For family prayer. Many families sing one verse of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” each evening as they light the Advent wreath. Pick one theme a week: hope in week one, peace in week two, joy in week three, and love in week four. Children enjoy the African American spirituals in the joy section, and the O Antiphons from December 17 make a good countdown to Christmas.
For church services. Parish choirs can follow the structure of the liturgy: chant or a hymn like “Creator of the Stars of Night” at Vespers, a Taizé refrain for a prayer service, a Marian antiphon at the end of Compline, and a penitential hymn during a Reconciliation service. Remember that the Gloria is omitted at Mass on Advent Sundays, and instruments are used with restraint.
Finding Recordings and Sheet Music
If you really love these songs and want to listen to more songs, you can choose to visit any of the following platforms by considering the one that suits you better.
YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, Deezer, and Catholic Board. On these platforms, search for “Catholic Advent playlist” or specific names of individual songs; For instance, you may search “Rorate Caeli” or “Creator Alme Siderum”
To help you more, we have listed a few Choirs and groups you can start with: The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, which have recently released an Advent album called Advent at Ephesus. The King’s College Choir, Cambridge, which is mostly famous for its Advent carol service, and the Taizé community, which has recorded its chants for many years.
You can also visit your Parish Stores; most of them have a bunch of records from the choir.
In case you need the music scores and sheets, these sites will offer you great help.
- Hymnary.org lets you look up a hymn’s text, tune, composer, and the hymnals it appears in. It is very useful for checking history.
- CPDL (Choral Public Domain Library) and IMSLP have free scores of older choral works that are out of copyright.
- OCP, GIA and CanticaNOVA sell scores for modern Catholic songs. Many parishes use a licence such as OneLicense to reprint hymns legally.
- Chant resources. Many Gregorian chants, including Rorate Caeli, are available free online in modern and square-note notation.
Advent begins on November 29 and ends on Christmas Eve, so there is still time to make a playlist. When December 25 arrives, you can move on to our full list of 35 Catholic Christmas Songs with their history and meaning.
Which of these Advent songs is your favourite?
We would really love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
FAQs
A “general” Advent playlist often contains Christmas songs that happen to be played in December. Catholic Advent music is different in a few ways:
It comes from the liturgy. Many songs are built on the antiphons, readings, and psalms of the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, such as the O Antiphons or the chant Rorate Caeli.
It is full of Scripture and prophecy. The words quote Isaiah, the Psalms, and the Gospels, rather than only describing a cosy scene.
It gives the Virgin Mary a special place. The Fourth Sunday of Advent focuses on her “yes” to the angel, and a Marian antiphon is sung at night prayer throughout the season.
It is patient. The tone is longing and hope, with joy arriving only on Gaudete Sunday and fully on Christmas.
You will find two broad families in this article. The first are purely liturgical hymns and chants, such as Rorate Caeli or Creator of the Stars of Night, which are centuries old and are sung at Mass, Vespers, and Compline. The second are Contemporary Catholic songs, such as Taizé chants and parish hymns from the last fifty years, which are easier for a congregation to learn. Both are welcome in the Church’s Advent. Many parishes mix them, using chants at the entrance and a modern hymn at thanksgiving.
The Church holds that the way we pray shapes what we believe. Advent music turns the season’s message into something a whole congregation can sing together. When a parish sings “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” week after week, it is not just filling time before the carols. It is learning to ask for Christ to come, which is the whole point of Advent.
