"Prayers from the Upper Room" and "Sing of Him"

The objective is simplicity. This songbook contains the musical scores of two albums, Prayers from the Upper Room and Sing of Him, produced by the Religious Cenacle and the Jesuit Music Ministry. As articulated by the introduction of the album, Prayers from the Upper Room, the inspiration of these albums is the Cenacle (latin, “coenaculum”), where the Last Supper took place, where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, where He returned after the Ascension. It was the place where Mary and the disciples “devoted themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14) until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

These songs are therefore intended for quiet and communal prayer. The notes and arrangements are stripped to the basic melody with a few lines for harmony, and some exceptions for SATB choirs. The songs in the album, Sing of Him, are duets. Though the songs can be sung in big occasions, the feel and mood of these arrangements express an intimacy found in the gathering of family, friends or small communities, all remembering the Lord in prayer and liturgy. An additional feature of this songbook is the liturgical notes. It will aid church musicians in the use of songs at appropriate parts and seasons of the liturgy.

May your worship and prayer be enriched and deepened by the very Spirit that inspired Mary and the disciples to pray and enabled us to sing.