To all readers of the blog,
Happy New (calendar) Year!
Please also offer prayers for those six Anglican bishops, five from the Church of England and one from the Traditional Anglican Communion, who with the end of the old year lay down their episcopal responsibilities and very early in 2011 will be making the prophetic step of entering into the full communion of the Catholic Church in preparation for the establishment of the Ordinariate.
Our grateful and completely inadequate thanks to them for all they have done for the Catholic Movement in England and beyond, and our hopes and prayers for what they will continue to achieve for us in union with the successor of Peter and in a new, groundbreaking and very exciting context.
Patrimony: I suppose we could say the other 'Faith of our Fathers' - from the New English Hymnal [479]
I have to say I'm not sure about the video images, perhaps they're meant ironically - just concentrate on the hymn!
The original version, printed in the English Hymnal itself (544) was, of course, "O Faith of England taught of old." - these are the words found after the video clip. I'm not sure the NEH's geographical inclusivity is an improvement, although it could be regarded as more user-friendly to national susceptibilities this side of the Wye, or wherever. Although whenever I flinch at any of the alterations in the New English Hymnal, I only have to think of the execrable 'Hymns Old and New' to get over it - rapidly...
Anyway, old or newer version, this is a hymn for 2011:
O faith of England, taught of old
by faithful shepherds of the fold,
the hallowing of our nation;
thou wast through many a wealthy year,
through many a darkened day of fear
the rock of our salvation.
Arise, arise, good Christian men,
your glorious standard raise again,
the Cross of Christ who calls you;
who bids you live and bids you die
for his great cause, and stands on high
to witness what befalls you.
Our fathers heard the trumpet call
through lowly cot and kingly hall
from oversea resounding;
they bowed their stubborn wills to learn
the truths that live, the thoughts that burn,
with new resolve abounding.
Arise, arise, good Christian men,
your glorious standard raise again,
the Cross of Christ who guides you;
whose arm is bared to join the fray,
who marshals you in stern array,
fearless, whate'er betides you.
Our fathers held the faith received,
by saints declared, by saints believed,
by saints in death defended;
through pain of doubt and bitterness,
through pain of treason and distress,
they for the right contended.
Arise, arise, good Christian men,
your glorious standard raise again,
the Cross of Christ who bought you;
who leads you forth in this new age
with long-enduring hearts to wage
the warfare he has taught you.
Though frequent be the loud alarms,
though still we march by ambushed arms
of death and hell surrounded,
with Christ for Chief we have no foe,
nor force nor craft can overthrow
the Church that he has founded.
Arise, arise, good Christian men,
your glorious standard raise again,
the Cross wherewith he signed you;
the King himself shall lead you on,
shall watch you till the strife be done,
then near his throne shall find you.
"Happy New (calendar) Year"
ReplyDeleteSome of us reactionaries won't be celebrating the New Year until (Gregorian) 7th April.
But many blessings for 2011, whenever it starts!