Looking for Gold

Hymnody (Greek and Latin): the singing, composition, and study of hymns and psalms. 

Every once in a while, I crack open an old book, Hymns of Faith and Inspiration, by Pamela Kennedy. As the title implies, there is gold in the notes and words on each page. The following are just two examples of that gold.

Elizabeth Prentiss married a Presbyterian pastor and professor​

Kent Kimball

at Union Theological Seminary, and they had three children together. In the following years, two of them died, and she wrote these words in a poem, “One child and two green graves are mine; this is God’s gift to me.” She wrote many hymns, including “More Love to Thee,” and also wrote the following reflection: “To love Christ more is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul, when I am happy and busy, when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!”

William Faber graduated from Oxford University and became an Anglican minister. After a while, he joined the Roman Catholic faith and was given a new name, Father Wilfred. He became concerned with the lack of congregational singing, so he started writing his own hymns. One of his texts, “Faith of Our Fathers,” has become a favorite of all churches and denominations worldwide. He was a prolific writer and penned over 150 hymns. The pope even granted him the title Doctor of Divinity.

I find myself clinging to the lyrics of hymns so often as I go through my day, whatever is on my mind and whatever I’m doing. They bring me peace, remind me to love more, and serve as both prayers and praise to God.

Keep reading! Keep singing!

In His Name,
Kent