Music That Soothes My Soul

Reposted from Gooseberry Lane.  Original posting date:  1/15/2010.

In weeks when the world seems to be out of control and marred by horrendous tragedy, I try to claim some peace by listening to this lovely composition by Gabriel Fauré: the Cantique de Jean Racine. Originally in French, the lyrics, translated into English, are as follows:

Word, equal to the Most High, our only hope,
Eternal day of the earth and the Heavens;
From the peaceful night we break the silence,
Divine Savior, cast your eyes upon us!

Spread upon us the fire of your powerful grace
May all hell flee at the sound of your voice;
Disperse the sleep from a languishing soul,
Which has driven it to forget your laws!

Oh Christ, be favorable to this faithful people
Now gathered to bless you.
Receive the songs it offers to your immortal glory,
And may it return filled with your gifts!

Enjoy!

Oh, Day Full of Grace

This has always been one of my favorite hymns and, now, I know a bit more about it.  From the Christian Classics Ethereal Library website, I learned that the song was probably written in Sweden or Denmark and that three manuscript copies of the hymn exist, not one of which was dated later than 1450 AD.  Considered one of the "best known of all Pre-Reformation songs," the singing of it was likely prohibited by the church, as the aforementioned article relates:

The ordinances of the church, furthermore, expressly forbade congregational singing at the church services, holding that, since it was unlawful for the laity to preach, it was also impermissible for them to sing in the sanctuary.  It is thus likely that a Danish hymn had never been sung, except on a few special occasions, in a Danish church before the triumph of the Reformation.

Being Lutheran, I cannot imagine the elimination of hymn singing.  The article continues to explain how, even though such songs were prohibited in church, hymns were still sung at home, thereby preserving them for Christians today.