Is there a difference between words set to music and words set to the printed page, words to be sung and words to be read? Is the poetry found in Sacred Scripture also found in our hymnals? Why are words and lyrics so powerful? What IS poetry? We discuss these things - and more - today on Notes From Above. Our guest is Poet, Katie Hartsock.

Sister Rachel Benjamin is the Youth Outreach Director at St Mary's Catholic Mission serving the teens on the Eastside of Flint. These are some of the songs that poignantly articulate the heart cry of youth in Flint and motivates the St Mary's youth ministry team to continue being the hands and feet of Christ to them.

The Sistine Chapel Choir is the oldest active choir in the world. They are the pope’s personal choir - and have been serving at pontifical events since the 15th century. On Thursday, September 4, select members from that choir (the Sixtini Cantores) will perform the sacred music of the Church at the St. John Resort in Plymouth, Michigan. Joining the choir that evening, world renowned Art Historian, Elizabeth Lev will discuss the history of the Renaissance and the visual beauty of art that adorns the ceilings and walls of the Sistine Chapel. Dr. Lev is our guest today on Notes From Above

Much of American Gospel music has its roots in the slave songs of the South and the Underground Railroad. Today, we will hear music of the Fisk Jubilee Singers who helped to build Fisk University in Tennessee by the power of their beautiful voices after the close of the American Civil War. Fisk, founded in 1866, is the first Black educational institution in the United States. May the Lord be praised!. All songs are Public Domain

Description: An ongoing miracle is taking place across America and the world following the 10th National Eucharistic Congress that took place in Indianapolis in the middle of this month. Tens of thousands of Catholic and other Christians attended that three day event, but the real miracle is about to happen when those tens of thousands of souls return to their homes. The world will change because, inspired by their experience, they will continue to openly follow Christ and will proclaim His True Presence to the world. This show is dedicated to those missionaries. Our music today proclaims the glory of God!

Chris Russ is a lifelong Michigander and a Catholic convert who first encountered Catholicism as a student at Father Gabriel Richard High School. FGR is also where he first met a girl named Angela with whom he fell madly in love and eventually married. They now have four wonderful children together. Chris is now the Director of Alumni relations at FGR.

Chris Russ is a lifelong Michigander and a Catholic convert who first encountered Catholicism as a student at Father Gabriel Richard High School. FGR is also where he first met a girl named Angela with whom he fell madly in love and eventually married. They now have four wonderful children together. Chris is now the Director of Alumni relations at FGR.

On July 1, 2025, the beloved Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, Carl Mengeling, died after a long battle with cancer. We remember him with great fondness and dedicate this edition of Notes From Above to him in memoriam. Bishop Carl’s motto was “He Must Increase”- taken from John’s Gospel, Chapter 3, Verse 30, where the Baptist speaks of Jesus, saying “He must increase; but I must decrease.” Bishop Carl’s life was dedicated to increasing the love of Jesus in the hearts of the people he served for so many years. Requiescat in Pace!

Description: Morten Lauridsen has composed notes from above on Lux Aeterna which bring peace to the heart and penetrates the soul.

The folk music of America holds a vast treasure trove of faith expressed in plain-spoken lyrics. The instruments used are often simple: Guitars, banjos, mandolins, harmonicas - the kind of things that can be carried on our backs or in our pockets. But it’s the voices that catch our attention most because they always seem to come straight from the heart - and soul - of the American people. We feature some of the classics of Christian Americana today on Notes From Above.