Eligibility

To qualify for this contest you must fulfill the following:

• Must be a faithful member of the Catholic Church from any part of the world
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Younger people will require permission from their parents
• Can participate as individual or as a team.

Theme

• Console and Adore the Agonizing Jesus Christ", inspired by the message of consoling and adoring Our Lord Jesus Christ in His mystical agony

Objective

• To compose a hymn combining lyrics and music that reflects the spirit of the 30th anniversary, promoting adoration, consolation, and the unity of the faithful in prayer and song.
• The hymn should embody the Christian values promoted by the spirituality of the Cross.

Composition Requirements

• Inspiration: The hymn must reflect the contest theme and the values of the spirituality of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
• Musical Genre: It must be solemn, liturgical, and suitable for liturgical worship. NB: Instrument should only serve as accompaniment if the composer wants to use it.
• Originality: Both the lyrics and music must be entirely original. Adaptations or versions of existing works will not be accepted.
• Ease of Interpretation: The melody must be accessible for choirs and the faithful, encouraging communal participation.
• Theology: The contents of the lyrics should be theologically correct.
• Language: Submissions shall be in English.
• Stanzas: Minimum of 5 and maximum of 7

Prizes

The winner will enjoy the following priviledges.

• Official recognition during the 30th Anniversary ceremony.
• Publication of the hymn on the Apostolate’s platforms.
• Performance of the hymn at official events.
• Certificate of participation as a winner.
• If the winner attends the anniversary, the cost of participation at Holy Land will be waived.

Submission Format

• Audio in MP3 or WAV format, submitted on a USB drive or CD.
• Score in PDF format, including the lyrics and music partition.
• Author(s) details: full name, ID/passport number, address, email, and phone number.
• A brief description of the work (maximum 1 page, Arial 12, single-spaced).
• Lyrics of the hymn (printed and digital copies).
• Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to the Organizing Committee, titled: 30th Anniversary Hymn Contest.
• Alternatively, proposals can be sent by email to: agonisingconsoler@gmail.com or
• Submit to our google drive: media@preciousbloodapostolate.com or
• Submit to our WhatsApp Number: +2348082222155

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated by the Organizing Committee jury based on

• Spiritual Relevance (20%): The lyrics should faithfully reflect the theme and Christian values, reference the 30th anniversary, and express gratitude to God.
• Originality (25%): Creativity and uniqueness of the work.
• Musicality and Structure (20%): Harmony, ease of interpretation, and suitability for liturgical settings.
• Adaptability(15%): The hymn's ability to be performed by choirs and used in various ecclesial celebrations.
• Theological Content (20%): The ability of the hymn to inspire devotion and consolation and have sound theological content.

Important Dates

Mark your calenders so you don't forget'

• Contest Launch: January 19, 2025.
• Submission Deadline: March 1, 2025.
• Evaluation and Selection: Of the best three winners (2nd March, - 20th April 2025), by music committee.
• Final Vote for Best Composer: 26th April, by Anniversary Committee.
• Winner Announcement: (Date 27th April, 2025), via the Apostolate’s social media and official channels.

Copyright©

The winner will transfer the commercial rights of the lyrics and music to the Apostolate while retaining moral rights (credit as the author). There will be a signed contract of transfer of ownership to the Apostolate. The hymn may be adapted for liturgical needs.

Participation implies acceptance of all contest rules.

Further Inquiries

For more inquiry please check our contact page or send us a message at: agonisingconsoler@gmail.com.