ANSWER US, O LORD

"Answer Us, O Lord" and "Hear Our Prayers" are two short, deeply reverent choral responses designed for the Prayer of the Faithful. Woven around an earnest plea for divine attention, these pieces serve as a sung intercession during Mass, allowing the choir and congregation to lift their collective needs to God. The inclusion of Psalm 141—asking that our prayers rise like incense and our uplifted hands serve as an evening sacrifice—anchors the music in scriptural tradition.

During the intercessory prayers, a spoken response can sometimes feel routine, but singing these petitions brings a renewed sense of devotion to the rite. The simple, direct English lyrics, such as "We have confidence in you, O Lord," foster a spirit of trust in the choir loft and the pews alike. It is a fitting way to elevate the universal prayer, turning the community's shared hopes and petitions into a unified, harmonious cry to the Father.