During the season of Lent, FaithND will provide meditations on this season of preparation through musical offerings from the many Notre Dame choirs and sacred music ensembles. Songs will be featured on Ash Wednesday, each Tuesday and Saturday of Lent, and every day of Holy Week through the Octave of Easter.

The Vocare Ensemble, Notre Dame-Newman Centre Dublin – The Newman Vocare Ensemble consists of musicians and choristers at Newman’s University Church on St. Stephen’s Green in Dublin, Ireland. The University stewards Newman University Church and has now founded the Notre Dame – Newman Centre for Faith and Reason.

Composer Steven C. Warner (who also directs this ensemble and plays guitar in the video), suggests that the lyrics of this piece can be a “mantra” for these challenging times. A year of pandemic restrictions have strained us in ways that we could not have previously imagined. Psalm 143, one of the great penitential Psalms, offers timeless wisdom in this song. The lyrics remind us that our penitential posture in this season of Lent can also be a source of healing and comfort. God can use our own tears to cleanse us and transform our laments into song.

(Lyrics)
If there be tears, may they wash us with forgiveness;
If there be cries, may they find their way to song.
Forgive us, O Lord! Forgive us, as we forgive each other.

When I cry to you, listen, Lord, and guide me.
In your faithful love, attend to my voice.
Answer me; answer and lead me in your love.

If there be tears, may they wash us with forgiveness;
If there be cries, may they find their way to song.
Forgive us, O Lord! Forgive us, as we forgive each other.

As the morning dawns, let me hear you, Lord.
Let your love become the goal of my heart.
In you I put my trust;
teach me, Lord, and let me do your will.

If there be tears, may they wash us with forgiveness;
If there be cries, may they find their way to song.
Forgive us, O Lord! Forgive us, as we forgive each other.

When I fly to you, shelter me in refuge.
May your will be done in all that I do,
for you are my God; let your spirit lead me on your pathways.

If there be tears, may they wash us with forgiveness;
If there be cries, may they find their way to song.
Forgive us, O Lord! Forgive us, as we forgive each other.

“If There Be Tears” by Steven C. Warner.
Copyright: Steven C. Warner 2021. All rights reserved. Used with permission. 

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