When piety turns inward, the resulting hymnody shows a strong emphasis on interior meditations such as we find in our noble Hymn of the Week, “Be Still, My Soul.”
This is going to sound odd but I don't always open my Word and Song post because I know it will touch me too much:) I'm looking forward to some marathon days when I just read / listen to Word and Song and catch up when I'm feeling a little less whatever it is people feel when they are walking a beloved one to the door of the veil and then walk back alone. I'm very grateful the angel on my shoulder prompted me to open today as this hymn is exactly what I needed to hear. Blessings to you both:)
Thank you, Jeanne. Gosh, the world gives us plenty of cause to feel down in the dumps. We want to bring you beautiful things -- normal things, too, which people used to enjoy.
Another song by the 2nd Chapter of Acts, 'The Easter Song' I actually like better performed by Keith Green (deceased)--even though he was rabidly anti-Catholic, he did some great music.
I did not know this hymn’s third stanza in the post and the second in the recording. It will profit me. It is profound in faith and hope and touching in its honesty. Previous centuries and generations were less in denial than our own about our common human mortality and vulnerability to many losses. We are creatures, not gods.
I do hope that word “fullness” which struck me in the hymn translation is close to the original. I love its hope filled echo of the word “fullness” in the Gospel of John’s prologue—which takes us on a deep dive into the mystery of the Word made flesh (it is better than the best musical overture)—towards the astonishing claim and intimation that, “of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…”
What lovely hymn choice to teach endurance, patience, hope. What a great stanza and hymn to pray through in times of heaviness. It is a reminder to unite our griefs to Christ’s Sacrifice and to fear nothing but the loss of Him.
Thelma, Tony and I both thought of this hymn independently of each other this week. Usually we run a couple of ideas past each other. This is a tremendous hymn, all the good things you say of it and more. And yes, it's a humbling experience to sing such hymns. It puts us in our place, indeed.
It's striking to me that the first time I heard this hymn, it was the melody that moved me. I even looked up "Finlandia," wondering how the music worked on me even though I usually am drawn to the words in songs. The older I grow, the more I am able to BE still. Thank you, Tony, for this treasure. I miss singing in a choir.
I've never sung in a choir, alas, and only rarely have I had the opportunity to sing out with a full voice amidst other Christians who were doing the same. Once was in Louisville, at a Baptist seminary; almost everybody at the noon service was male, and I thought the dome was going to crack and fall down on us. Another time was with Lutherans at a conference on Christian culture; and then the male and female voices intermingled in ways that stirred my heart to the depths. It was all the more powerful because I was standing next to a young Lutheran minister with his wife and their young children, and the boys and girls sang too, in voices as pure as sunlight.
A beautiful hymn. The intro makes me wonder what the piety of the High Middle Ages was like as opposed to , the piety turned inward. Is it the piety of action? Like thanking, praising, serving, and obeying? Which seems to connect somehow with the idea that, "We aren’t the authors of our lives, because we aren’t the authors of the universe. That doesn’t mean that we do nothing. “Be still, my soul,” we say, meaning that we should not fret, and it’s that peaceful confidence that enables us to act most wisely and effectually"
Oh, there were plenty of contemplatives in the Middle Ages, but if you read their works and you sing their carols and hymns (so many of our most beloved Christmas carols come from the Middle Ages), you can hardly imagine them by themselves. Gregarious people, they were!
I heard this song first by the old group, 2nd Chapter of Acts.......and this remains my favorite version; my father is partial to one done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Ah, the 2nd Chapter of Acts reminds me of my days with the Jesus People. I am glad to say that my closest friends from those long ago days are persevering in the faith. As for the Tabernacle Choir, they are quite the phenomenon. So many voices! I can see why your father is partial to them!
This is going to sound odd but I don't always open my Word and Song post because I know it will touch me too much:) I'm looking forward to some marathon days when I just read / listen to Word and Song and catch up when I'm feeling a little less whatever it is people feel when they are walking a beloved one to the door of the veil and then walk back alone. I'm very grateful the angel on my shoulder prompted me to open today as this hymn is exactly what I needed to hear. Blessings to you both:)
Thank you, Jeanne. Gosh, the world gives us plenty of cause to feel down in the dumps. We want to bring you beautiful things -- normal things, too, which people used to enjoy.
Another song by the 2nd Chapter of Acts, 'The Easter Song' I actually like better performed by Keith Green (deceased)--even though he was rabidly anti-Catholic, he did some great music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG8Tko3BzHk
I did not know this hymn’s third stanza in the post and the second in the recording. It will profit me. It is profound in faith and hope and touching in its honesty. Previous centuries and generations were less in denial than our own about our common human mortality and vulnerability to many losses. We are creatures, not gods.
I do hope that word “fullness” which struck me in the hymn translation is close to the original. I love its hope filled echo of the word “fullness” in the Gospel of John’s prologue—which takes us on a deep dive into the mystery of the Word made flesh (it is better than the best musical overture)—towards the astonishing claim and intimation that, “of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…”
What lovely hymn choice to teach endurance, patience, hope. What a great stanza and hymn to pray through in times of heaviness. It is a reminder to unite our griefs to Christ’s Sacrifice and to fear nothing but the loss of Him.
God bless you.
Thelma, Tony and I both thought of this hymn independently of each other this week. Usually we run a couple of ideas past each other. This is a tremendous hymn, all the good things you say of it and more. And yes, it's a humbling experience to sing such hymns. It puts us in our place, indeed.
It's striking to me that the first time I heard this hymn, it was the melody that moved me. I even looked up "Finlandia," wondering how the music worked on me even though I usually am drawn to the words in songs. The older I grow, the more I am able to BE still. Thank you, Tony, for this treasure. I miss singing in a choir.
I've never sung in a choir, alas, and only rarely have I had the opportunity to sing out with a full voice amidst other Christians who were doing the same. Once was in Louisville, at a Baptist seminary; almost everybody at the noon service was male, and I thought the dome was going to crack and fall down on us. Another time was with Lutherans at a conference on Christian culture; and then the male and female voices intermingled in ways that stirred my heart to the depths. It was all the more powerful because I was standing next to a young Lutheran minister with his wife and their young children, and the boys and girls sang too, in voices as pure as sunlight.
It’s a beautiful hymn. I love the music by Sibelius, too. We often sing this at my church which fortunately has excellent musicians.
A beautiful hymn. The intro makes me wonder what the piety of the High Middle Ages was like as opposed to , the piety turned inward. Is it the piety of action? Like thanking, praising, serving, and obeying? Which seems to connect somehow with the idea that, "We aren’t the authors of our lives, because we aren’t the authors of the universe. That doesn’t mean that we do nothing. “Be still, my soul,” we say, meaning that we should not fret, and it’s that peaceful confidence that enables us to act most wisely and effectually"
Oh, there were plenty of contemplatives in the Middle Ages, but if you read their works and you sing their carols and hymns (so many of our most beloved Christmas carols come from the Middle Ages), you can hardly imagine them by themselves. Gregarious people, they were!
I heard this song first by the old group, 2nd Chapter of Acts.......and this remains my favorite version; my father is partial to one done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfLYxkyBKE4
Ah, the 2nd Chapter of Acts reminds me of my days with the Jesus People. I am glad to say that my closest friends from those long ago days are persevering in the faith. As for the Tabernacle Choir, they are quite the phenomenon. So many voices! I can see why your father is partial to them!
I was not familiar with this group. Thank you for posting the link. Their version of the song is beautiful as well.
This hymn admits of different presentations, isn't it? What a lovely melody, also.
2nd Chapter of Acts! I had forgotten them. Wonderful music, for sure. Glory to God!
I hadn't thought of them in many years, myself. I love the commenters here on Word & Song for sharing such treasures with us, too.
Many, many thanks, dear Tony! The comfort and wisdom of these words become more and more
fitting as years go by, beloved parents ar gone and especially, holy friends have left us for Heaven.
One of my favorite hymns. Affirms the words of Jesus who assured:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."