Why Catholics Should Sing Good Hymns – 9

9. Good Hymns Help us Learn Scripture – Good hymns are rooted in Scripture.  Many hymns are actual quotations of Scripture because they are poetic versions of the psalms. The most famous are versions of Psalm 23 – The Lord is My Shepherd. The Spacious Firmament on High is a version of Psalm 19. O God Our Help in Ages Past  is based on Psalm 90 and A Mighty Fortress is Our God  is based on Psalm 46.

Other hymns and songs are direct quotations from Scripture. This is where some of the contemporary songs and hymns have their strength. Many Taize chants are scripture verses set to simple chant tunes. The much loved I the Lord of Sea and Sky comes from Isaiah 6 and I Samuel 3.

The Sacred Scriptures are not just sources for proof texts or inspiring hymns however.  They are essentially the stories of the faith encounters of people with God himself. Therefore other hymns like Charles Wesley’s Come Thou Traveler Unknown are wonderful meditations on a Scripture story. As the Bible character’s encounter with God is contemplated the singers are also taken further toward their their own encounter. Wesley’s hymn is a meditation on the the story of Jacob wrestling the angel. Classic Christmas carols take us into an experience of the Christmas story while passion tide hymns like When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts take the congregation to the foot of the cross to experience the story of salvation at the heart level. Watts was a non-conformist Christian (Baptist) but no Catholic could dispute his theology expressed in this beautiful hymn.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Go here for another hymn and the tenth reason why Catholics should sing good hymns.