Saturday, July 02, 2005

Church music for the 4th


There is some controversy over what music is appropriate to sing in church on the 4th of July in the United States. I have known clergy who loath any patriotic music on that day, and of course there are those for whom God and Country are almost interchangable.

Adoremus, the Society for Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy suggests what it calls "The National Hymn"--God of Our Fathers. Played properly, with all the flourishes, it is a moving and appropriate song for this time of year.

I also like Eternal Father, Strong to Save, otherwise known as The Navy Hymn. It was a favorite of FDR's.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walked on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

5 comments:

Staying in Balance said...

Glad you like it, Wendy! I am an afficianado of St. Dymphna's given the mental health (or lack thereof!) that runs rampant through my family!

Welcome!

Unknown said...

those are beautiful lyrics, we dont have july 4th here in australia but I do know about it at least ;)
Wendy! wow, that is so good to hear about you being in the process of conversion, I have not long come back to the Catholic Church too.

Staying in Balance said...

Carmel,
Do you have any hymns that have particular meaning to Autralians?

Unknown said...

Here is one I like

Merciful Father and God of all love,
Lowly we bow to Thy Throne far above,
Seeking Thy guidance and peace on our way,
Thou Knowest best what is good in our day.

Teach us in faith to submit to Thy will,
Loyal at Heart though out lot may seem ill.
Knowing that all must confess Thy control,
Bright golden gifts from Thy treasures unroll.

Neath sunny skies in this fair Austral land,
High is Thy mandate from mountain to strand.
Ne'er let vice flourish or war show its head,
Prostrating formen on strifes gory bed.

Then shall the people extol Thy great name.
Anthem and Chorus shall swell out Thy fame,
Woollands re-echo the song of the shore.
Glory to Thee shall ascent ever more.

Staying in Balance said...

That's beautiful! I wonder if I would know the tune...

Dymphna's favorite quotes


"Slavery ended in medieval Europe only because the church extended its sacraments to all slaves and then managed to impose a ban on the enslavement of Christians (and of Jews). Within the context of medieval Europe, that prohibition was effectively a rule of universal abolition. "— Rodney Stark

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