Last Sunday morning, while it was still dark out and our children lay sleeping, my wife and I tiptoed to the family room computer. We loaded up Matt Maher’s “Christ is Risen”, cranked up the speakers, and then blasted it throughout the house.
Our kids awoke to Maher’s Resurrection anthem, which ushered in the joyful Easter season:
For a few years this has been our Easter morning tradition. Filling our home with Easter music sets the right tone, cultivating a spirit of joy and celebration. Our great tradition verifies this:
“Music. . .is likewise given by God’s generosity to mortals having rational souls in order to lead them to higher things.”
— Saint Augustine
“Music is the exaltation of the mind derived from things eternal, bursting forth in sound.”
— St. Thomas Aquinas
For us Catholics, Easter isn’t only a one-day feast—it lasts fifty days! So how can we fill up all that whole season with good Easter music?
One option is to use a free (and legal) music-streaming service like Pandora or Spotify. Log-in to either service and create an “Easter” playlist. Both services do a good job selecting music you like and then refining your list based on the feedback you provide (i.e., based on whether you like or dislike a particular song.)
Another option is to create your own Easter playlist by downloading individuals songs. Over at the Gospel Coalition blog, Trevin Wax shares several of his favorites:
Easter Music Playlist
1. Christ Is Risen – Matt Maher
2. See, What a Morning – Keith & Kristyn Getty
3. All Things New – Andrew Peterson
4. In resurrectione tua – Taize
5. Easter Song – Keith Green
6. Redeemer – Nicole C. Mullen
7. Come, People of the Risen King – Keith & Kristyn Getty
8. Mystery (Feat. Charlie Hall) – Passion
9. Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise) – Hillsong
10. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today – Hymns Triumphant
11. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth – Steve Green
12. Jesus is Alive – Josh Wilson
13. Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed – Keith & Kristyn Getty
14. Christus Resurrexit – Taize
15. Jesus Lives – Sovereign Grace Music
16. I Will Rise – Chris Tomlin
17. The Trumpet Shall Sound – 4Him
18. For This Purpose – Graham Kendrick
19. Low In The Grave He Lay – The Hymn Makers
20. In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) – Adrienne Liesching & Geoff Moore
21. Alive Forever Amen – Travis Cottrell
22. Great I Am – New Life Worship
23. Jesus is Alive – Shai Linne
24. Death Has Lost Its Sting – Sojourn
25. He Rose – Deluge
26. Death in His Grave – John Mark McMillan
27. Love Crucified Arose – Michael Card
28. Glorious Day – Casting Crowns
29. High Noon – Andrew Peterson
30. He’s Alive – David Phelps
What are some of your favorite Easter songs?