The greatest Hymn - Ein Feiste burg

[Secundulus]

A hymn by Martin Luther. While Catholics may disagree with his position in the Reformation, this hymn he wrote has to stand among the greatest and most inspirational ever written.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Amen!

And though some may accuse me of bias, allow me to say, Yes! I am biased! But a great hymn nonetheless.

[a_ntv]

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

A clear exemple of Luther only spirituality: the Theology of the Glory

(I cannot of course read Mr Luther books or poetry: he died excomunicated)

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

A clear exemple of Luther only spirituality: the Theology of the Glory

(I cannot of course read Mr Luther books or poetry: he died excomunicated)
Wait what? Not the second part. What about the theology of glory?

[Albion]

A hymn by Martin Luther. While Catholics may disagree with his position in the Reformation, this hymn he wrote has to stand among the greatest and most inspirational ever written.

Yes! Absolutely! My #1 choice. And BTW, it is now sung in the Catholic Church too (with a few changes in the wording, unfortunately).

[WarriorAngel]

Not to digress.....
But my absolute favorite has always been the prayer of St Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

http://www.zarcrom.com/users/yeartorem/stfrancis.html

That song always brings tears to my eyes.

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I must admit, I do love the prayer of St. Francis.

My Great American Novels professor had us pray it together at the start of every class.

[WarriorAngel]

I must admit, I do love the prayer of St. Francis.

My Great American Novels professor had us pray it together at the start of every class.

:cool: I like your professor.

I get so choked up I cant get the words out.
Whats' up with that? Strange isnt it? :D