Faith of Our Fathers (hymn)
Faith of our Fathers is an English Catholic hymn, written in 1849[1] by Frederick William Faber in memory of the Catholic martyrs from the time of the establishment of the Church of England by Henry VIII.[2] Faber wrote two versions of the hymn: with seven stanzas for Ireland and with four for England.[3] The Irish version was sung at hurling matches until the 1960s.[4]
In England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland it is usually sung to the traditional tune Sawston; in the U.S. the tune St Catherine by Henri Hemy is more commonly used.
Lyrics
Faith of our Fathers! living still
- In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword:
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
- Whene'er we hear that glorious word.
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Our Fathers, chained in prisons dark,
- Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children's fate,
- If they, like them, could die for thee!
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our Fathers! Mary's prayers
- Shall win our country back to thee:
And through the truth that comes from God
- England shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our Fathers! we will love
- Both friend and foe in all our strife:
And preach thee too, as love knows how
- By kindly words and virtuous life:
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to thee till death.[5]
In countries outside of England the words "Our land" have been substituted for "England".
Protestant Adaptations
Many Protestant churches and hymnals use an adapted version with an altered third verse:
- Faith of our Fathers! we will strive
- To win all nations unto thee,
- And through the truth that comes from God,
- Mankind shall then be truly free.
The final line of this verse has also been adapted as, "We all shall then be truly free."[6]
References
- ^ Routley, Erik; Paul Akers Richardson (2005). A panorama of Christian hymnody. GIA Publications. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-57999-352-8.
- ^ Osbeck, Kenneth W. (1982). 101 hymn stories. Kregel Publications. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-0-8254-3416-7.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (1996). Religion and identity. Leicester University Press. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-7185-1424-2.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (1996). Religion and identity. Leicester University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-7185-1424-2.
- ^ Terry, Richard. "The Westminster Hymnal". 1912, p. 196.
- ^ http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faithoof.htm
Further reading
- Smith, Robert Elmer (1916). Modern messages from great hymns. The Abingdon press. pp. 147–167. OCLC 2794208.