Each season in the liturgical calendar has a selection of Common Psalms and/or Common Response(s).  The idea is that they can be used in place of the given psalm for any Sunday or weekday during that season.

The three psalms below are the Common Psalms for Lent.  The text of these psalm really captures the essence of the season, and they are a great place to start for any community that hasn’t quite established a complete repertoire of Responsorial Psalms for all five Sundays of Lent.

COMMON PSALM 1

Psalm 50:3–6. 12-14. 17 r.cf. 3
Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

Click here to download melody line and chords [PDF]

Click here to download audio file [MP3]

LISTEN: Psalm 50: Have Mercy On Us – Common Psalm for Lent

CCLI No. 4583422

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COMMON PSALM 2

Psalm 90:1-2. 10-15 r. cf. 15
Be with me, Lord, in my distress.

Click here to download melody line and chords [PDF]

Click here to download audio file [MP3]

LISTEN: Psalm 90: Be with me, O Lord – Common Psalm for Lent

CCLI No. 7123417

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COMMON PSALM 3

Psalm 129:1-8 r. 7
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Click here to download melody line and chords [PDF]

Click here to download audio file [MP3]

LISTEN: Psalm 129: With the Lord – Common Psalm for Lent

CCLI No. 5079887

Psalms of Mercy

Each of these psalms actually occurs on a least one Sunday in Lent in either year A, B or C. Psalm 50 – Common Psalm 1 is also the responsorial psalm for Ash Wednesday. If Lent had a theme song this would probably be it – so it’d be great one to start with.

Let us know how you get on.

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