Top 25 Hummable Catholic hymns

We've sung at a number of Catholic funeral masses recently, and the choice of hymns has set us thinking.

There are so many different hymns in the hymn books(the Laudate has over 900 listed). Most churches have a repertoire of favourite hymns that suit the priest, congregation and musicians but sometimes these are not the most popular or well known.

So, how do you go about choosing the hymns you would like sung at your funeral or the funeral of a relative? 

Do you rely on the priest's suggestions only?
Or take advice from friends and family? 

However, if you are a regular churchgoer, then choosing is less of a problem.
If you:

a) are not a regular churchgoer
b) go to a different church than where the service will be held
c) are not of the same religion as the deceased
d) don't like singing yourself and so have no idea what hymns are good or not
e) or just don't know where to start!

Help is at hand!
Your priest officiating at the funeral will have many suggestions to help, but often it's nice to go prepared with some ideas of hymns and tunes.

Here's some of our top 25 (actually 28) "hummable" funeral hymns, but more modern ones:

• A new commandment
• All that I am
• All the earth proclaim the Lord
• Be not afraid
• Be still for the presence of the Lord
• Be thou my vision
• Come holy ghost
• Dear Lord and father of mankind
• Do not be afraid
• Eternal father strong to save
• Guide me, I thou great deliverer
• He who would valiant be
• Hear I am Lord
• Lord of the dance
• Love divine all loves excelling
• Love is his word
• Make me a channel of your peace
• May the choirs of angels
• Now thank we all our God
• O purest of creatures - Ave Maria
• O the love of my Lord
• On eagle's wings
• One bread one body
• Praise my soul the King of heaven
• Sing a new song unto the Lord
• Take our bread
• The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
• Whatsoever you do

Can't remember how that hymn goes?
Here are some short audio samples of a verse and chorus of these hymns for funerals to help you decide what to use.

​Is your favourite listed? Please add your suggestions in the comments below!