Notre Dame Folk Choir – The Folk Choir serves the University of Notre Dame as one of the principal liturgical choirs, singing every Sunday during the academic year at the 11:45 A.M. Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

In the season of Lent, we fasted from singing the Alleluia in our hymns and, most conspicuously, in the acclamation preceding the Gospel in each Mass. In the medieval period, this was called the deposito (which means laying aside or giving up) of the Alleluia. This spiritual, verbal fasting marks our time of preparation and makes us long for the exuberant, triumphant singing of this holy word. Today, Christ is risen! And the full throated Alleluia’s come roaring back as a sign of our joyful participation in the resurrection of Christ. As we hear the Alleluia repeated again and again in today’s song, let us be filled with the exultation of Christ’s victory over death.

(Lyrics)
Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ our heav’nly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him now his might confess, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Spirit blest, Alleluia!

“Jesus Christ is Risen Today” arr. by Cindy Johnston Favreau.
Copyright © 1988, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

For more songs, please visit Songs of Notre Dame: A Lenten Offering