Notre Dame Handbell Choir – The Handbell Choir consists of about two dozen undergraduate and graduate students and covers more than five full octaves. They regularly provide music in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, on campus, in the South Bend community, and in parishes around the United States.

This piece is based on a song with a very Lenten theme. The lyrics reflect the mystery of the suffering Jesus endured because of his deep love for humanity. When performed on handbells, those words fall away and we are drawn into the simple beauty of music which can calm our minds and lift our hearts to God. The title–”Sacred Silence”– is a paradox: how can music be silent? In this season of Lent, can music draw us into a place of stillness and silence where we might truly encounter the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice?

(Lyrics)
O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down;
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss ’til now was thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call thee mine.

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain:
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest Friend,
for this, thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.”

Sacred Silence” arr. by Karissa Dennis.
Copyright, Jeffers Publishing. All rights reserved.

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