Psalm 22:4
Words by Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
Music by Henri F. Hemy, 1818-1888
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The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has well been called the "great
gallery of gallant Christian faith", a thrilling account of
spiritual giants who were willing to give all in defense of
their faith in God. There have been martyrs of the Christian
faith in every century since this New Testament record was first
written. Some writers and historians have estimated that at
least fifty million individuals have died a martyr's death since
the crucifixion of Christ. Even today, in our civilized culture,
there are many who suffer and die because of their faith and
profession of Christ as Savior and Lord.
No doubt the hearing and singing of this hymn conjures in many
minds various scenes from the great "cloud of witnesses"
referred to in Hebrews 12:1, who, with their surrounding but
unseen presence, encourage us to "run with patience the race
that is set before us. "It is good for us to be reminded often
that the history of the Christian faith is a rich heritage of
countless numbers whose faith in God was counted more dear than
life itself. Much could be said about the first century
Christians and their persecution by the Roman Empire, or the
suffering of the Huguenots in France during the reign of Louis
XIV, or even the religious persecution to our forefathers
resulting in their quest for a new land where they could enjoy
religious freedom.
The "faith of our fathers" referred to in this hymn, however, is
the faith of the martyred leaders of the Roman Catholic Church
during the sixteenth century. The author of this text, Frederick
William Faber, born June 28, 1814, in Calverley, Yorkshire,
England, was raised as a strict Calvinist by a father who was an
English clergyman. After young Faber's graduation from the
renowned Oxford University in 1843, he became a minister in the
Anglican Church at a small parish at Elton, England.
In his younger days Faber was strongly opposed to the teachings
and practices of the Roman Church. However, this was the time
when a movement known as the Oxford or Tractarian Movement was
strongly influencing the Anglican Church. Whereas the Wesleys
and their evangelical followers preached a message of personal
conversion easily grasped by even the illiterate man, leaders of
the more sophisticated Oxford Movement were of the persuasion
that a meaningful religious experience could only be gained
through better liturgical and ceremonial church services. From
about 1833 to 1850 the Oxford Movement tenaciously directed
religious England, during which time many of the Anglican
Church's leaders either joined the Roman Church or developed a
rejuvenated high church party known as Anglo-Catholics.
Early in his ministerial training Faber came under the influence
of this Oxford Movement. After serving just three years as an
Anglican minister, he left the Church and joined the Roman
Catholic fold. He became known as Father Wilfrid. Shortly after
his secession to the Roman Church Faber noticed the great lack
of congregational hymnody that existed within this group. He
recalled the important and influential role that congregational
singing had in Anglican congregations, especially within the
more evangelical parishes. Faber began to make it his life's
mission to write hymns that promoted the history and teachings
of the Catholic Church. In all Frederick Faber wrote 150 such
hymns before his early death at the age of forty-nine. For his
efforts in this regard he was honored by the Pope with a Doctor
of Divinity Degree.
"Faith of Our Fathers" was written by Faber to remind Catholic
congregations of their many leaders who were martyred during the
reign of Henry VIII in the early days of the establishment of
the Anglican Church in Great Britain. The text first appeared in
1849 in Faber's collection, Jesus and Mary; or Catholic Hymns
for Singing and Reading. It was always Faber's hope that some
day England would be brought back to the papal fold. One of the
omitted verses from his original text expresses this thought:
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
would be true to Thee till death.
The tune for this hymn, a melody known as "St. Catherine's
Tune," was composed by a noted Roman Catholic, Henri Hemy, born
at New Castle-Upon-Tyne, England, on November 12, 1818. He was a
respected organist and composer at the church at Tynemouth and
in 1864 compiled a popular Catholic hymnal, Crown of Jesus. The
tune was originally composed for a Catholic hymn entitled "St.
Catherine, Virgin and Martyr." It was written in honor of
Catherine of Alexander, a fourth century martyr. The final eight
measures or refrain, "Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will
be true to Thee till death" were added by James G. Walton, when
he made a new arrangement and used it for his collection, Plain
Song Music for the Holy Communion Office, published in 1874.
"There's a wideness in God's mercy Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice Which is more than liberty.
"There is welcome for the sinner And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior; There is healing in His blood.
"For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind.
"If our love were but more simple We should take Him at His
word, And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of
our Lord."
Written by Frederick Faber in 1862.
Quoted from "101 Hymn Stories" by Kenneth Osbeck. Kregel Publishers, P.O. Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1982.
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