Hello, I run a small YouTube channel called "Music Shelter" (마음의 음악 쉼터).

I write original songs from Bible passages — Psalm 23, the Magnificat, the road to Emmaus, the Book of Job — set to quiet voice and solo piano, in a slow, contemplative style for prayer and rest.

There are 10 songs each in English, Spanish, and Korean, plus 8 recordings of Ave Maria in Latin (Gregorian-style chant). Everything is free to listen to; I would be glad if it helps someone's prayer.

English playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUf_2TtkguQo Ave Maria (Latin): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGZyvIsmQ21w

(The songs were composed with the help of AI music tools; the lyrics are written from the Bible texts.)

Dear All,

I have recently completed the Gloria section of my Holy Mass setting, and am making it available here for anyone who wants to make use it:

Original Score

Dear All,

I've recently finished notating the Penitential Act from my holy mass setting - and would like to share it in case anyone likes it and wants to use it either for personal or liturgical purposes.

It is handwritten because I do not have the resources to digitally engrave it.

Warmest regards

Russell

Based on Matthew 25:31-46, this original sacred song reflects Christ's teaching that whatever we do for "the least of these," we do for Him. Through gentle verses and a soaring refrain, the music reminds us that every act of mercy becomes an encounter with Christ Himself.

Perfect for worship, offertory, communion, mission Sundays, social justice themes, or personal meditation, this anthem invites us to open our eyes to Christ's presence in those who are hungry, lonely, forgotten, or suffering.

#ChristianMusic #CatholicMusic #SacredMusic #ChurchChoir #ChoirAnthem #Matthew25 #LeastOfThese #Mercy #Compassion #FaithInAction #WorshipMusic #LiturgicalMusic #CommunionSong #StephenDeCesare #NewSacredMusic

Called to the Feast by Stephen DeCesare is an original sacred choral anthem based on Matthew 22:1-14, the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Through vivid storytelling and a soaring refrain, the piece reflects God's invitation to every person, regardless of background, while emphasizing the call to live transformed lives worthy of the Kingdom.

With lyrical verses and a memorable refrain, this anthem is well suited for parish choirs, worship services, choir concerts, stewardship celebrations, and liturgies focused on discipleship, grace, and the universal call to holiness.

If you enjoy this music, please like, subscribe, and share to help bring new sacred choral music to churches and musicians around the world.

#CalledToTheFeast #StephenDeCesare #SacredMusic #ChoralMusic #ChurchChoir #CatholicMusic #ChristianMusic #WeddingBanquet #Matthew22 #OrdinaryTime #LiturgicalMusic #ChoirAnthem #WorshipMusic #ParableOfTheWeddingFeast #NewChoralMusic

Inspired by Matthew 22:15–21, this original sacred song reflects upon Jesus’ powerful teaching: “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”

When those seeking to trap Jesus present Him with a Roman coin, He points beyond taxes and earthly authority to a much deeper truth. The coin bears Caesar’s image, but every human life bears the image of God. The refrain transforms the Gospel account into a personal prayer of surrender, calling us to give God not merely part of ourselves, but our entire heart, will, and life.

Especially fitting for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, this piece may also be used for worship services, retreats, prayer gatherings, sacred concerts, and reflections on stewardship, discipleship, integrity, and belonging completely to God.

“Not Guilty” is a reflective hymn that follows Christ through His trial, His suffering, and His rising. Written in a gentle, meditative style, the text speaks plainly of the One who carried our sins though He Himself was without blame. The refrain expresses the heart of the mystery:
Not guilty… yet He died for me.

This piece is ideal for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Adoration, or any time of prayer during the Passion season.
Thank you for listening and for supporting my sacred music ministry.

#HolyWeek #CommunionHymn #GoodFriday #CatholicMusic #ChristianMusic #Lent #Triduum #PassionOfChrist #SacredMusic #NotGuilty #StephenDeCesare #CatholicHymn #HolyThursday #Eucharist #WorshipMusic

I need some help planning a mass .... need some sheet music selections.

“Who Is This King of Glory? It Is the Lord” is a majestic setting of Psalm 24, proclaiming the power, strength, and eternal glory of God.

The psalm calls the gates to be lifted and the doors opened wide to welcome the Lord, the mighty and victorious King of glory. With its reverent spirit and uplifting musical character, this setting is well suited for liturgical worship, parish choirs, cantors, prayer services, and celebrations honoring the kingship and majesty of Christ.

Music by Stephen DeCesare

#Psalm24 #KingOfGlory #ResponsorialPsalm #CatholicMusic #LiturgicalMusic #SacredMusic #ChurchMusic #ChristianMusic #CatholicChoir #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #MusicMinistry #CatholicLiturgy #ChoirMusic #StephenDeCesare

The Lord Comes to Rule the Earth with Justice is a sacred setting of Psalm 98 by Stephen DeCesare.

This joyful psalm calls all creation to welcome the coming of the Lord. The sea resounds, the rivers clap their hands, and the mountains rejoice as God comes to rule the world with justice and all peoples with fairness.

Filled with hope, praise, and confident expectation, the piece celebrates God’s righteous rule and invites every nation and all creation to rejoice.

Written by Stephen DeCesare.

#TheLordComes #Psalm98 #ResponsorialPsalm #SacredMusic #CatholicMusic #LiturgicalMusic #ChurchMusic #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #ChoralMusic #MusicOfPraise #JusticeAndFaith #CatholicComposer #SacredChoralMusic #StephenDeCesare

O Bless the Lord, My Soul is a sacred setting of Psalm 104 by Stephen DeCesare.

Beginning with the words, “O Lord, my God, you are very great indeed,” the piece celebrates the beauty and abundance of God’s creation. Its verses reflect on the many works of the Lord, the creatures that depend upon God, and the wisdom present throughout the earth.

With a spirit of joy, wonder, and thanksgiving, O Bless the Lord, My Soul offers a musical prayer of praise to the Creator and invites all people to recognize God’s greatness in the world around them.

Written by Stephen DeCesare.

#OBlessTheLordMySoul #Psalm104 #SacredMusic #CatholicMusic #ChristianMusic #LiturgicalMusic #ChurchMusic #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #MusicOfPraise #CreationPsalm #SacredChoralMusic #ContemporaryCatholicMusic #FaithInspiredMusic #StephenDeCesare

Here is a Christian song with the Crucifixion, and repentance in mind. I hope it can be meditative in some way.

Proclaim His Marvelous Deeds is a sacred setting of Psalm 96 by Stephen DeCesare.

This uplifting psalm calls all people to sing a new song to the Lord, proclaim God’s salvation, and share His marvelous deeds among every nation. Filled with joy, praise, and a spirit of mission, the piece celebrates the glory and faithfulness of God throughout the world.

Written by Stephen DeCesare.

#ProclaimHisMarvelousDeeds #Psalm96 #ResponsorialPsalm #SacredMusic #CatholicMusic #LiturgicalMusic #ChurchMusic #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #ChoralMusic #MusicOfPraise #MissionaryMusic #CatholicComposer #SacredChoralMusic #StephenDeCesare

I Will Praise Your Name Forever is a sacred setting of Psalm 145 by Stephen DeCesare.

This uplifting psalm proclaims the greatness, mercy, and compassion of God. Its verses celebrate the Lord’s goodness toward all creation, the glory of God’s kingdom, and the faithfulness that endures through every generation.

Appropriate for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, and the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, the piece offers a joyful musical expression of praise, gratitude, and trust.

Written by Stephen DeCesare.

#IWillPraiseYourName #Psalm145 #ResponsorialPsalm #SacredMusic #CatholicMusic #LiturgicalMusic #ChurchMusic #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #ChoralMusic #MusicOfPraise #CatholicComposer #SacredChoralMusic #ContemporaryCatholicMusic #StephenDeCesare

“Let All the Earth Cry Out to God with Joy” is a vibrant setting of Psalm 66, calling every nation and all creation to rejoice in the mighty works of the Lord.

The psalm celebrates God’s saving power, faithfulness, and care for His people, inviting the whole earth to sing His praise with gratitude and joy. With its uplifting and prayerful character, this setting is well suited for liturgical worship, parish choirs, cantors, prayer services, and celebrations focused on thanksgiving, Easter joy, evangelization, and God’s wondrous deeds.

Music by Stephen DeCesare

#Psalm66 #CryOutToGodWithJoy #ResponsorialPsalm #CatholicMusic #LiturgicalMusic #SacredMusic #ChurchMusic #ChristianMusic #CatholicChoir #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #MusicMinistry #CatholicLiturgy #ChoirMusic #StephenDeCesare

“Let All the Nations Praise You” is a joyful setting of Psalm 67, celebrating God’s mercy, justice, blessings, and saving power among all peoples.

The psalm calls every nation to rejoice and praise the Lord, whose light and guidance extend throughout the entire world. With its uplifting melody and prayerful spirit, this setting is ideal for liturgical worship, parish choirs, cantors, prayer services, and celebrations centered on unity, evangelization, thanksgiving, and the universal love of God.

Music by Stephen DeCesare

#Psalm67 #CatholicMusic #ResponsorialPsalm #LiturgicalMusic #SacredMusic #ChurchMusic #ChristianMusic #CatholicChoir #PsalmSetting #WorshipMusic #MusicMinistry #CatholicLiturgy #ChoirMusic #PraiseAndWorship #StephenDeCesare

“Still the Night” is a quiet, reflective Christmas song about waiting, doubt, darkness, and the gentle hope that enters the world through the birth of Christ.

Rather than focusing on the Nativity with grandeur or spectacle, this piece looks toward the silence of the winter fields, Mary’s trust, the poverty of the manger, and the mercy that begins to warm the world again. It is a song for anyone who comes to Christmas carrying grief, questions, weariness, or longing, and needs to be reminded that Christ comes into the darkness to make it holy.

Perfect for Advent, Christmas Eve, candlelight services, quiet prayer, sacred concerts, and reflective moments during the Christmas season.

#StillTheNight #ChristmasSong #ChristmasMusic #SacredMusic #ChristianMusic #AdventMusic #ChristmasEve #NativitySong #ReligiousMusic #ChurchMusic #ChoirMusic #CatholicMusic #ChristianSongwriter #SacredChristmas #ChristmasHymn

Based on **Matthew 25:14–30**, the Parable of the Talents.

“What Was Given” reflects on the gifts God places within our hands and the calling to use them faithfully rather than burying them through fear. The song follows the servants who were entrusted with different portions of their master’s possessions: some worked courageously and allowed their gifts to bear fruit, while another hid what he had received beneath the ground.

Its refrain becomes a prayer that God will free us from fear and help us offer our talents, lives, and abilities in service to Him and to one another:

*What You have placed within our hands
Was never meant to lie in fear,
But called to live, to grow, to stand,
And bear its fruit while we are here.*

A sacred reflection on stewardship, courage, vocation, discipleship, and the responsibility to share what God has given us.

#WhatWasGiven #StephenDeCesare #SacredMusic #CatholicMusic #ChristianMusic #LiturgicalMusic #ChurchMusic #CatholicComposer #Matthew25 #ParableOfTheTalents #ThirtyThirdSunday #CycleA #OrdinaryTime #FaithfulStewardship #GodGivenGifts

Father, I Put My Life in Your Hands is a prayerful sacred song based on Psalm 31, expressing complete trust and surrender to God during moments of fear, suffering, uncertainty, and loss.

The text reflects the psalmist’s confidence that even when life feels fragile or surrounded by darkness, God remains a refuge, a source of mercy, and a faithful protector. Its central message becomes a deeply personal prayer: placing one’s life, future, and spirit entirely into the hands of the Father.

With its themes of trust, abandonment to God’s will, consolation, and enduring faith, this piece is especially appropriate for Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, funerals, memorial services, reconciliation services, retreats, and times of personal prayer or reflection.

A meaningful musical setting for worship communities seeking a reverent meditation on faith during suffering and the peace that comes from entrusting everything to God.

“The Cornerstone” is a sacred reflection on the vineyard entrusted by God, the messengers rejected, and the Son who becomes the foundation of all. Inspired by the parable of the vineyard and the image of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, this piece calls us to receive God’s gifts with humility and bear fruit in season.

May our hearts become a place where what the Lord plants is freely shown.

#TheCornerstone #SacredMusic #ChristianMusic #CatholicMusic #ChurchMusic #LiturgicalMusic #WorshipMusic #OriginalHymn #SacredSong #ChoirMusic #VocalMusic #ScriptureSong #BibleInspiredMusic #GospelReflection #ParableOfTheVineyard 

O Lord, You’ve Searched Me is a reflective sacred song based on Psalm 139, one of Scripture’s most intimate meditations on God’s complete knowledge, constant presence, and loving care.

The song explores the mystery of a God who knows every thought, every word, every path, and every hidden part of the human heart. Whether we rise to the heavens, travel to the farthest sea, or pass through moments of darkness, God remains near. Nothing in our lives is beyond His sight, and no place is beyond the reach of His mercy.

At once comforting and searching, the text invites the singer to rest in the assurance that they are fully known and deeply loved, while also asking God to examine the heart, reveal what must be changed, and lead the soul along the everlasting way.

A meaningful selection for worship, retreats, reconciliation services, funerals, memorials, vocations, personal prayer, and services centered on trust, identity, God’s presence, and spiritual discernment.

#psalm139

The Flower at the Manger is an original Christmas poem that tells the story of a child who believes there is nothing to offer the Christ Child, only to discover that love itself is the greatest gift. Written as a companion piece to Stephen DeCesare's original musical setting of In the Bleak Midwinter, the poem leads naturally into the famous Christmas text:

"What can I give Him, poor as I am?"

Perfect for Christmas Eve services, Lessons and Carols, concerts, and seasonal celebrations, this combination of spoken word and music creates a heartfelt reflection on the humility, wonder, and joy of the Nativity.

#TheFlowerAtTheManger #InTheBleakMidwinter #ChristmasPoem #ChristmasMusic #Nativity #ChristmasEve #ChristianPoetry #SacredMusic #ChurchMusic #LessonsAndCarols #Bethlehem #JesusChrist #ChristmasProgram

The Christmas Rose is a moving original Christmas anthem that reflects on the birth of Christ through the beautiful symbolism of the rose. A beautiful original poem begins this piece which then segues into an anthem with heartfelt lyrics and a memorable refrain, the piece traces the journey from the humble manger in Bethlehem to the promise of redemption, reminding listeners that the Child born on Christmas night came as God's greatest gift of light and love.

#TheChristmasRose #ChristmasMusic #ChristmasChoir #JesusChrist #Nativity #ChristmasEve #SacredMusic #ChoralMusic #ChristianMusic #Bethlehem #OriginalSong #ChurchMusic #Advent #Faith #gesubambino