16 Comments
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Sandy's avatar

I wish we still sang hymns like this in our church. The depth of the lyrics is not found today in much of what we sing but is greatly needed.

Rob's avatar

Hi Tony, can you recommend a translation of Boethius? Also a couple of secondary sources? I know very little philosophy and theology. But our reading group that started with Inferno is now onto this!!! Thank you. Rob

Anthony Esolen's avatar

Dear Rob -- The translation I've always used is in prose throughout (including the poems), but the introduction and the essay at the end are superb. It's David Green's translation, originally published I think by Indiana UP, but another press has picked it up. It is quite readable, and there are no archaisms.

Rob's avatar

Thank you Tony.

Debra Esolen's avatar

Cathy, thank you for going to all the trouble of finding this version. These are good singers, but the link we tried to share is the one Bill found below. I always try for congregational versions when I can -- something of a ministry for me, to which our major contribution was to grow our own organist! Anyhow, I enjoyed listening to it this morning! <3

Cathy Hoyt's avatar

Thanks Debra. I would love to hear the one you meant, but can't find the link. The thoughts in the post about the Eternal Light are particularly meaningful to me at this point in my journey with Christ .

Debra Esolen's avatar

Cathy, here is the link which should have worked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Le61A39PZQ

These hymns mean the world to our family, in more ways than I can elaborate on here. We are very glad to be able to share them with welcoming ears!

Cathy Hoyt's avatar

Thank you Debra, it is wonderful to hear so many voices raised in song! I can only imagine what it means to your family but it is a huge blessing to think how all the saints can be joined as one in song. Your ministry is a gift to me and to all your readers.

Debra Esolen's avatar

Cathy, you are kind. And yes, you hit the nail on the head. That is what congregational singing is a foretaste of. And singing the older hymns which all those who went before us sang is likewise a continuation of the ministry of those hymn writers and a communion with the saints of old. It's not that new hymns can't be written, but that excluding the theologically sound and musically and poetically grand old hymns -- and that is what has happened in so many places and churches -- breaks the chain of faith forged over centuries. We are actively trying to restore that chain in the ways that are open to us.

Debra Esolen's avatar

Bill, this is the one we tried to link to. It worked last night. Thanks for letting us know.

Bob Curtin's avatar

Same here

BarbaraJude's avatar

Good morning...When I click on the image all I get is an enlarged picture of the image, no hymn. Perhaps it's just my computer, but I thought I'd let you know.

Debra Esolen's avatar

Barbara, thank you for letting us know that the link didn't work. I will fix it as soon as I can. It's the one Bill mentioned above.