“Take My Life, and Let It Be”

Hello, all!

As you open this video from Bethany House, imagine that you’ve walked into the Chapel and have taken a seat. Imagine that you’ve dipped your fingers into the Baptismal font and made the sign of the cross, as a way of remembering your Baptism – and that you belong to Jesus. Imagine that you’ve taken a couple moments to quiet yourself as you lift your gaze to the Altar and the Tabernacle – the place where Jesus comes to us in each Mass and the place where he waits for us to come to him.

The piece I’m playing on the chapel organ today is a three-part arrangement of the hymn “Take My Life, and Let It Be”. It’s set to the tune “Messiah”, which (I learned after encountering Christians beyond the denomination in which I was raised) is not the usual tune used for this hymn. Even so, whether because of sentimental or other reasons, these beautiful words will always be linked in my heart and mind with this melody!

Here are the words…

“Take My Life, and Let It Be”

Tune: Messiah

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold,
take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.
Amen.

Blessings! :)

Father Todd