Songs on Love based on 1 Corinthians

Many people look to 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 for a definition of love. Keep reading for a selection of songs that are based on those versus of Scripture.

Every three years, Catholics hear 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 as the second reading of the Mass. Part of this reading is a standard selection for weddings as Paul talks about love.

Of course, when taken as part of the whole Scripture you can see how he is referring to the body of Christ rather than just marital love.

It seemed rather fitting for me to share a few songs on love based on 1 Corinthians today as I know that I really need this reminder about perfect love which can only come from God.

The Scripture ~ 1 Corinthians 12: 31 – 3: 13

Brothers and sisters:
Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.
If I speak in human and angelic tongues,
but do not have love,
I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;
if I have all faith so as to move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own,
and if I hand my body over so that I may boast,
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

Songs on Love ~ Ubi Caritas

I’ll admit that I love chanting, especially in Latin. There is just something almost otherworldly about it as Latin is not our common language. Also, you have ties to our forefathers who heard or sang the same tones many years before us.

This is more of a plain chant version of Ubi Caritas.

This selection is from a concert with gorgeous harmonies. Oh, how I could listen to this over and over!

Songs on Love ~ Where Love is Found

This modern song by Dan Schutte was one of the selections we sang at Mass last night. I love the melody and the powerful message if you are paying attention to the lyrics.

Love Goes On

This is a favorite song at Catholic parishes around the United States.

Such a simple, but haunting melody line with each short verse leading directly into the next.

Songs on Love ~ Love Never Fails

There are 2 songs with this same title that I discovered.

This particular one I found while searching on YouTube and just felt compelled to share. The recording is from the pews at a wedding (gorgeous church!), so you don’t have a great view of the vocalists and you get a bit of ‘strife’ from some youngsters in the pews.

This one is by Brandon Heath and is another one I hadn’t heard until searching for songs about that perfect love.

This post was submitted for inclusion in The Christian Home Issue 99 (2/3/2013) hosted here. As the featured columnist for the Movies and Music category, you can be looking forward to weekly posts on what we are watching or music we’ve enjoyed. Feel free to leave suggestions for me as well that are family-friendly or uplifting for adults. While I have movies and some music selections in mind, I’m always on the lookout for other great choices.

As of February 14, 2023 it has been updated with an additional selection and current links to performances on YouTube.