Our Lenten hymn today is not “grim,” but bold and warm-hearted. We could use more like it. Lent is for Eastertide: its end, but also its fulfillment in glory.
Thank you for the story both of the composer and poet of this lovely hymn. We have sung it this Lent. We are blessed to attend a TLM with dedicated musicians, after many years of mixed experiences. Last week we had "God, of thy pity, unto us thy children..." very beautiful, perhaps you could investigate the author? a Lutheran melody I think.
I’m fortunate to attend mass at a church with excellent musicians. We’ve been singing this hymn these last few weeks. After the first few measures I had to pick up the book and take a look at the words—I knew it was a hymn to reckon with. It’s beautiful.
Thank you for the continuing presentation of great hymns. 40 Days is among my favorites. There is something profound about such music. I think of the Bach Passions, when after the evangelist declaims, and the soloists trill and do their stuff . . . one of the great Lutheranic [?] chorales just literally stops everything (including one's heart) with their greatness.
It's such a loss that so many churches have ditched the great hymns. The old expression was, I believe, "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." There is a transcendence about the great sacred music that seems to elevate the soul directly heavenward.
Thank you for this hymn and your thoughts, Dr. Esolin. I’ve been struggling with my Lenten penance lately and my strength and courage have been renewed. It is consoling to be reminded that Jesus is with me, bearing me up, urging me ever forward.
I’ve missed this hymn in my “both forms” parish where we only sing a hymn at the end of Mass. All the other places where most parishes sing hymns during Mass we chant the Gregorian propers both in the TLM and the NO.
Oh, dear, Father, I am so glad that we are able to share these great hymns with folks who also love them. Our beloved pastor of 25 years in Rhode Island did the traditional hymns (1940), with sung prayers in English (Latin during Advent and Lent, and on other Holy Days throughout the year). It worked beautifully. We had four hymns each week, sometimes in Latin. I was raised Methodist, and my agreement when I married Tony was that I would happily go to the Catholic Mass with him, but I had to have "real music," and congregational singing. That was hard to find, I can tell you, but we managed it. Along the way, however, we "grew our own organist," so that we can take the music with us when we travel to Canada every year, for example. Reclaiming the great hymns has been a family ministry for us.. forever.
Thank you for the story both of the composer and poet of this lovely hymn. We have sung it this Lent. We are blessed to attend a TLM with dedicated musicians, after many years of mixed experiences. Last week we had "God, of thy pity, unto us thy children..." very beautiful, perhaps you could investigate the author? a Lutheran melody I think.
I’m fortunate to attend mass at a church with excellent musicians. We’ve been singing this hymn these last few weeks. After the first few measures I had to pick up the book and take a look at the words—I knew it was a hymn to reckon with. It’s beautiful.
Thank you for the continuing presentation of great hymns. 40 Days is among my favorites. There is something profound about such music. I think of the Bach Passions, when after the evangelist declaims, and the soloists trill and do their stuff . . . one of the great Lutheranic [?] chorales just literally stops everything (including one's heart) with their greatness.
It's such a loss that so many churches have ditched the great hymns. The old expression was, I believe, "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." There is a transcendence about the great sacred music that seems to elevate the soul directly heavenward.
Thank you for this hymn and your thoughts, Dr. Esolin. I’ve been struggling with my Lenten penance lately and my strength and courage have been renewed. It is consoling to be reminded that Jesus is with me, bearing me up, urging me ever forward.
I’ve missed this hymn in my “both forms” parish where we only sing a hymn at the end of Mass. All the other places where most parishes sing hymns during Mass we chant the Gregorian propers both in the TLM and the NO.
Oh, dear, Father, I am so glad that we are able to share these great hymns with folks who also love them. Our beloved pastor of 25 years in Rhode Island did the traditional hymns (1940), with sung prayers in English (Latin during Advent and Lent, and on other Holy Days throughout the year). It worked beautifully. We had four hymns each week, sometimes in Latin. I was raised Methodist, and my agreement when I married Tony was that I would happily go to the Catholic Mass with him, but I had to have "real music," and congregational singing. That was hard to find, I can tell you, but we managed it. Along the way, however, we "grew our own organist," so that we can take the music with us when we travel to Canada every year, for example. Reclaiming the great hymns has been a family ministry for us.. forever.
Thanks for your post--good food for thought! (although I think the corn is as high as an elephant's eye!)
Ha, there's one for Sometimes a Song!