Snapd
ragon
THE P RTAL
January 2015
Page 5
In praise of the
traditional hymn
F
rom the
earliest days of the Church, the singing of hymns has been an important
part of Christian worship. There are several passages within the New Testament itself
which were probably early hymns, for example, 1Timothy 3:16 and Philippians 2:5-11. Their
form may have evolved over the course of two millennia, but hymns remain an esteemed
part of Christian worship still today.
I make no bones about the fact that I
favour the ‘traditional’ hymn over the
modern worship chorus. The latter
has its merits, such as allowing for
greater spontaneity in worship where that is desirable,
but the former has proved itself a fit and worthy
vehicle not just for worship of almighty God, but also
for Christian theology, spirituality and mission.
standing alongside the angels
Crucially a good hymn (I admit there is such a thing
as a bad hymn) helps us to worship. Creating a sense
of reverence, it takes us out of ourselves and points
us towards God, where so many worship songs bump
along the surface and focus on how I feel about God
and myself (‘Lord, I just want to…’).
the words and music of a hymn are able to keep the
It is impossible for me to sing, for example, How memory of the past alive in the Church and hold off
shall I sing that majesty which angels do adore? without “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “ecclesial Parkinson’s”.
finding myself standing alongside those very adoring
angels? Hymns have that power to lift our hearts to
The words of hymns are some of the most beautiful
God in worship.
poetry ever written, and the music to which they are
set very fine. Literarily and musically, the hymn is able
They also have the power to teach us the theology to do what the soaring heights of a Gothic cathedral
we need. Where the typical worship song successfully do architecturally - catapult our hearts and minds and
engages my emotions, hymns engage my mind as well. imaginations heavenward.
As a child in Sunday School and in church, I learnt
about God through hymns, without realising that I hymns have the power to convert
Hymns have the power to convert. They possess a
was being exposed to theology.
potency which the spoken words of our conversations
My childhood understanding of Catholic eucharistic and sermons usually lack. It lies not just in the
theology is connected not to the books I read or the poetry and music they employ, but also in their often
sermons I sat through, but to the hymns I sang week challenging and uncompromising nature.
after week: Once, only once and once for all…, And
People today, especially young people, are looking
now, O Father, mindful of the love…Soul of my Saviour
etc. These moulded and shaped me and are burned on for something to commit themselves to; the Christian
my memory still as easily accessible pieces of theology. life as expressed in many of our hymns, as opposed
They are only a moment away as a constant source of to a sugar-coated version of it, they may well find
appealing.
devotional and spiritual nourishment too.
Advent just past reminded me once again that
In reminding us of our theology, hymns remind us
of our history and provide a connection with the past worship songs are good, but a Church without hymns
that has formed us. Without tying us down to the past, is greatly impoverished.
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