Ave Maria sung by Pavoratti:

You nailed it. Although, I heard it by a female singer once (not sure who it was) and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Angelic. I wish I could find it again.

O Holy Night.
When I was a lad, I was in the men and boys choir at church. Midnight Mass at Christmas was the high point. Dan O'Donnell sang lead on O Holy Night, his voice soared in that song. That moment is frozen in time, the organ, the choir loft, Mr. O'Donnell if full voice nailing the high notes. It's over 60 years later and that hymn will still bring tears to my eyes.

It’s a live version of a song called Surtounded, sung by Brandon Lake. Starts at 6:14.

Too many favorites. This is one of them.

I don't think I can top Pavarotti's Ava Maria but Aaron Neville's, while softer, really gets me.

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

If you’ve seen the Cohen Brothers version of True Grit, you’ve hear a slow version of the music and a sped up version throughout the movie. Although I cannot stand Iris Dement’s voice, the song resonates.

https://youtu.be/hpSFXStNHdk?si=WsPJ9Y4L_BnaiCJc

The song “He’s Alive” by various artists….great song.

God Bless the USA...

I like Handel’s Messiah- the entire thing.

It's not possible for me to pick a favorite. Mostly what I love are "old" hymns but also some contemporary praise songs such as "In Christ Alone". I know the words to hundreds of hymns, and we still get to sing them in our church in San Diego (well, the first service anyway). It's very moving for me.
I feel that younger generations are being deprived of the beautiful music, poetry, and theology of the hymns sung in earlier years, carrying on a tradition of hundreds of years.
If I had to choose a favorite hymn, it would be "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross."
But since I also sing in choruses where sacred music is done, the OP's question opens up thousand of other options.
Narrowing it down to Ave Marias, I would have to choose the Bach-Gounod version for sheer beauty.

Here's a version with Kathleen Battle singing, Christopher Parkening accompanying on guitar.



Well, my looking up the above YouTube led to another coming up--from Rachmaninoff's All Night Vigil. I found my favorite YT video of my favorite section of this beautiful piece, and submit it as a blessing to you. I had the privilege of singing this with the San Diego Master Chorale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtQOY-0sViQ

"Why Me Lord" Kris Kristofferson

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
You nailed it. Although, I heard it by a female singer once (not sure who it was) and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Angelic. I wish I could find it again.

Celine Dion?

Great acapella versions

Hallelujah. The Leonard Cohen version. Many artists.