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.

Today, we conclude our Songs of Notre Dame offerings with a selection that is fitting to the occasion both in its theme and format. The hymn “Day is Done” marks the ending of a day with hopefulness and gratitude. It reminds us that every ending opens new possibilities for grace in our Christian lives. We thank you for taking this journey through Lent and the Easter Octave with us and the many choirs of the Notre Dame community. We pray that the music we have shared might make us, in the words of today’s hymn, “one in love, [God’s] truth confessing, one in hope of heaven’s blessing.”

This hymn was recorded remotely by individual students in the Folk Choir after they could not return to campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each voice and instrument was then combined to create a “virtual choir.” Their inventive offering shows us that, even in times of distress when we are far apart, we are still a community made one in our praise of God.

(Lyrics)
Day is done, but love unfailing
Dwells ever here;
Shadows fall, but hope prevailing,
Calms ev’ry fear.
Loving Father, none forsaking,
Take our hearts, of love’s own making,
Watch our sleeping, guard our waking,
Be always near.

Dark descends, but light unending
Shines through our night;
You are with us, ever lending
New strength to sight:
One in love, your truth confessing,
One in hope of heaven’s blessing,
May we see, in love’s possessing,
Love’s endless light!

Eyes will close, but you, unsleeping,
Watch by our side;
Death may come, in love’s safekeeping
Still we abide.
God of love, all evil quelling,
Sin forgiving, fear dispelling,
Stay with us, our hearts indwelling,
This eventide.

“Day is Done” by James Quinn, SJ.
Copyright © 1969, Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved.

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