I Want to Get to Heaven
by  Father Campion Murphy S.T. ©

I sinned in the past
  – I’m sad and regret.

I will die in the future
  – I’m worried, but yet -

Need help right now
  – Cause I'm weak so I'll plead

My friends from heaven are
close - they can lead.

For today and forever
 – please hear my prayer.

Bliss in eternity
 – I want to go there.

Saint Joseph

Foster Father of an infant
then a boy to be a man
He grew up with your protection,
your attention to God's plan

You preserved his mother's honor,
gave a home to the pure one,
taught your son your skill at woodwork,
This Nazarene and David's son

He was subject, he obeyed you -
taught a prayer, "Thy Will Be Done".
"Not My Will" - in garden groaning.
His and Yahweh's will were one.

Joseph, near and dear to Jesus,
Hear me, guide me till I die.
May my deathbed be surrounded
by your family. Hear my cry.

May 6, 2007

Sunday, December 31, 2006 was Holy Family Sunday.
Father Campion almost fully recovered from surgery, gave the homily.

Those of you who know Father, know that he loves music and poetry and as he told us, this homily was special.

He recounted his recollections from his youth of writing JMJ (Jesus-Mary-Joseph) on his school papers and he remembered Bishop Sheen who wrote the same three letters on the black board at the beginning of his TV show each week, many years ago. As Father thought about the Holy Family he composed this poem and set it  to music. Download a copy as an Adobe .pdf file for printing

  Jesus-Mary-Joseph

By Faith we know what eyes don't show
Jesus-Mary-Joseph near me.

Your help I need; with words I plead
Jesus-Mary-Joseph hear me.

Where e'er I walk, there'll be a fork
Jesus-Mary-Joseph steer me.

I sense a hill "You can; you will"
Jesus-Mary-Joseph cheer me.

To God, whose law fills me with awe,
Jesus-Mary-Joseph endear me.

O God, your might can cause me fright
"Would My Holy Family fear Me."

All this is said by the pray-er or singer except
The quotes by Jesus, Many and Joseph - "You can, You will"
               by God - "Would My Holy Family fear Me." 

Words and Music by Father Campion Murphy, S.T.  January 2, 2007