My sisters and brothers, our podcast today is about, people and nations everywhere giving praise to the Lord, and our podcast song is ‘Hallelujah’. This song was written around the same time that our other songs based on Psalms were written, and this one was also used throughout our Ministry Mission Journey, as part of our Catholic Mass Services, but mostly as a Praise Worship song for large groups and gatherings. It was another praise song that was first loved and used by Sister Bernadette Sheldon, SCJ, and Father Bill McCarthy, MSA, bless their Souls. They sometimes would enjoy opening their teachings with it, because it was one of those praising songs that was simply an easy song to catch on to, plus, it brought them right into the sharing of Psalm 117.

This song, ‘Hallelujah’, is based on Psalm 117. Looking back I remember in the middle toward later part of the 70s, how one of my special friends, Mickey Raymond, loved the book of Psalms, in fact, it was her favorite book in the Bible, and though she does not know this she inspired me to reading more of the Psalms. Thank you my sweet Mickey.

The Psalms are very much like songs to the Lord. When I was looking at this Psalm 117, though it is but only two verses, still, as many Psalms do, it touched my inner soul with music. I absolutely love what these Psalms do to me Spiritually.

When I heard Sister Bernadette and Father Bill read and talk about psalm 117, as few verses this Psalm has, there’s a lot being said in these two verses. I went home that day with a song in my heart. And the following week at the Holy Spirit Breakfast, Sister Bernadette had all the people praising the Lord with this song, Hallelujah. They were all lifting their hearts and hands up to the Lord singing:

‘Praise the Lord all nations now, hallelujah. Praise the Lord people of the earth, hallelujah. His Love for us is truly great, hallelujah. His Faithfulness endures forevermore, sing praise to the Lord, hallelujah, praise the Lord, hallelujah!’