CONVERTS: Do you miss the old protestant hymns?

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I bought a CD today, recorded by the artist Ashley Cleveland. It was all old hymns, like “Power in the Blood,” “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” and, to me the most powerful, “It is Well.” The last was sung at my great-grandfather’s funeral and I’ve always found it very powerful, esp. the line that says,“That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His Own Blood for my soul!” Also, the last hymn on the CD was “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” which my grandmother used to sing as she cleaned the house and cooked. I know a lot of the old protestant hymns don’t always jive with our theology as Catholics (some offer an assurance that Catholics would think the sin of presumption, for example), but I still find them stirring and I think they out do, esp. in reverence, the modern Catholic music we hear at Mass (I’m not talking “O Salutoris Hostia,” or “Tantum Ergo,” or, the absolute tops, Dubois’ “Adoramus Te Criste!”), like “City of God,” for instance. Do any of my fellow swimmers of the Tiber feel the same? What were your favorite old hymns?
 
I love to watch the Gaither programs. They have some awesome Southern Gospel music, Elvis could really sing them. My favorite song is sung by Michael English, I Bow Down and Cry Holy. Another great one is by the singer and song writer who wrote Butterfly Kisses and he sings Forgive Me. Gives me goose bumps.
 
I am a convert…albeit many years ago, but still love many songs by “non-Catholics”. Three of my favorites are by Sandy Patti: Via Dolorosa, We Shall Behold Him, and How Great Thou Art. I also like several from Keith Green, and Tennessee Ernie Ford (am I giving my age away??). But I also like John Michael Talbot and many Chant’s. I guess I like a wide spectrum of music. When I was searching for a church music was a huge factor. It adds so much (for me)to the whole worship experience.

Colleen
 
I don’t miss them at all- or anything else about protestantism. Leaving all that behind was one of the greatest things I ever did.
 
I guess that I am the only one here who did not convert from Baptist or other Fundamentalist churches.

I was Episcopalian and we just didn’t use those type hymns at all. A lot of what we sang was old Catholic Hymns and chants translated into English.

I have to admit that I still prefer things like “For All the Saints”, “Hail Thee Festival Day”, and “All Glory Laud, and Honor” done with pipe organ, to a lot of the things done in “modern” Catholic churches like “On Eagle’s Wings” with a praise band, drums, guitars but never an organ.
 
I absolutely miss them. Even on Easter Sunday we did “Jesus Christ is risen today” which is to the same tune as Wesley’s “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, but with not nearly as catchy with the words. I find most modern Catholic hymns to be so sterile, so non-offensive, so non-doctrinal, so-musically terrible that it’s just discouraging. It’s no wonder we Catholics don’t sing, who would want to sing to some of this stuff. Even when they do some of the good Protestant songs (ones that have doctrinally sound lyrics) there just isn’t the worship experience that Protestants have. That having been said, of course, Protestants don’t get to offer up Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity every week and then to become one with that Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity by taking the Holy Eucharist. But yes, we would get more of a sense that we’re in heaven on earth if the music sounded more heavenly. Maybe people would be more spiritual if the music were better too. I remember many of the Psalms or other Scripture verses were put to music for “praise and worship” songs (such as “This is the Day that the Lord Has Made”) and sang on a regular basis and because of this I remember them to this day. Such songs could easily be written/adapted for Catholic use as well.
 
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JKirkLVNV:
I bought a CD today, recorded by the artist Ashley Cleveland. It was all old hymns, like “Power in the Blood,” “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” and, to me the most powerful, “It is Well.” The last was sung at my great-grandfather’s funeral and I’ve always found it very powerful, esp. the line that says,“That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His Own Blood for my soul!” Also, the last hymn on the CD was “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” which my grandmother used to sing as she cleaned the house and cooked. I know a lot of the old protestant hymns don’t always jive with our theology as Catholics (some offer an assurance that Catholics would think the sin of presumption, for example), but I still find them stirring and I think they out do, esp. in reverence, the modern Catholic music we hear at Mass (I’m not talking “O Salutoris Hostia,” or “Tantum Ergo,” or, the absolute tops, Dubois’ “Adoramus Te Criste!”), like “City of God,” for instance. Do any of my fellow swimmers of the Tiber feel the same? What were your favorite old hymns?
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I think I miss them but only because I have not yet learned most of the hymns we sing at Mass and can’t sing along without the hymnal. Most of the time I can’t sing along even with the hymnal since I don’t read music. The best I can usually do is try to learn the chorus and sing along with that.

For me it isn’t a big issue, though, since I have fallen so in love with the Mass that the most important music is the Kyrie, Gloria, Alleluia, Sanctus, Our Father and Agnus Dei. I have learned those in all the various arrangements (including Latin) that we use in our parish. I remember telling my pastor at the beginning of Lent how much I missed the Gloria and Alleluia and how I couldn’t wait for them to come back.

Thank God, they are back now and my Mass is once again complete. 🙂
In His love,
Rhonda
 
Also, ironically, one of the ways I prepare to receive communion on a Sunday is to listen to a Protestant hymn (at least I think it’s of Protestant origen), “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” This hymn’s text, of course, is taken from the Eastern Liturgy of St. James. The words and melody inspire me to love and reverence Jesus in the Eucharist…

**Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”**

Ah yes, if only the Protestants who sang this realized what they were saying!
 
Absolutely! I love especially “It is Well”. My wife and I even sang this song as a meditation once at Mass. As an experiment, I took my (1976?) Baptist Hymnal and went through it with trying to see how many did not jive with Catholic theology. Very few, like about 1 in 5, should never be sung among Catholics becaused of the lyrics. About 1 in 3 are probably should not be sung among some Catholics because of imprudent interpretation.

Someone mentioned the Gaithers. Have you ever heard a more “catholic” song than “The Church Triumphant?”

As much as I love the hymns I grew up with, I am gaining an equal fondness for the new hymns I am learning. I remember attend daily Mass one morning when one elderly lady chose “O Sacrament Most Holy” as a hymn. We have never sang it in my parish and I had never heard it. I immediately fell in love with it and use it as a post-Communion meditation regularly now.

I started a thread months ago on favorite hymns. Several people mentioned “Panis Angelicus”, which I had never heard. I found it and that too was love at first hearing. Then, of course, there is Shubert’s “Ave Maria.”:love:
 
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boppysbud:
I guess that I am the only one here who did not convert from Baptist or other Fundamentalist churches.

I was Episcopalian and we just didn’t use those type hymns at all. A lot of what we sang was old Catholic Hymns and chants translated into English.

I have to admit that I still prefer things like “For All the Saints”, “Hail Thee Festival Day”, and “All Glory Laud, and Honor” done with pipe organ, to a lot of the things done in “modern” Catholic churches like “On Eagle’s Wings” with a praise band, drums, guitars but never an organ.
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Yer breakin’ my heart! Remember “Lo, He Comes, with Clouds Descending,” “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken," “Drop, Drop, Slow Tears,” “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation” (Westminster Abbey), “Praise to the Holiest in the Height,” “O Worship the King,” “All Praise to Thee My God This Night” (Tallis’ Canon), St. Patrick’s Breastplate (all 7 verses!) . . . .
 
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mattkennel:
Also, ironically, one of the ways I prepare to receive communion on a Sunday is to listen to a Protestant hymn (at least I think it’s of Protestant origen), “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” This hymn’s text, of course, is taken from the Eastern Liturgy of St. James. The words and melody inspire me to love and reverence Jesus in the Eucharist…

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Ah yes, if only the Protestants who sang this realized what they were saying!
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The translation is Protestant and the words are somewhat watered down – the original dates from the Orthodox Church when it was fully in union with Rome, and is still used in place of the Cherubic Hymn in the Divine Liturgy in the Greek-Catholic Church during the Liturgy of the First Resurrection appearance. . . . (Holy Saturday morning. . .
 
I’m a Catholic and I miss the hymns described above, especially the 17th through 19th century hymns that while written by protestants are theologically sound and musically inspired. Why we as a church are being punished by having to ban beautiful music and replace it with insipid music, poorly performed by largely untalented amateurs singing banal lyrics is a question for moral theologians. Undoubtedly it is part of the great chastisement that we should suffer this way.
 
At my parish we have a few songs in our hymnbooks with lyrics by Martin Luther.

There are a quite a number of hymns in Catholic hymnbooks written by protestants: Wesley, Watts, etc.
 
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mattkennel:
Also, ironically, one of the ways I prepare to receive communion on a Sunday is to listen to a Protestant hymn (at least I think it’s of Protestant origen), “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” This hymn’s text, of course, is taken from the Eastern Liturgy of St. James. The words and melody inspire me to love and reverence Jesus in the Eucharist…

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
"Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!"

Ah yes, if only the Protestants who sang this realized what they were saying!
Click to expand...
YES!!! In the five years I was an Episcopalian, this was one of my favorite communion hymns. It’s the BOMB!
 
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pnewton:
Absolutely! I love especially “It is Well”. My wife and I even sang this song as a meditation once at Mass. As an experiment, I took my (1976?) Baptist Hymnal and went through it with trying to see how many did not jive with Catholic theology. Very few, like about 1 in 5, should never be sung among Catholics becaused of the lyrics. About 1 in 3 are probably should not be sung among some Catholics because of imprudent interpretation.

Someone mentioned the Gaithers. Have you ever heard a more “catholic” song than “The Church Triumphant?”

As much as I love the hymns I grew up with, I am gaining an equal fondness for the new hymns I am learning. I remember attend daily Mass one morning when one elderly lady chose “O Sacrament Most Holy” as a hymn. We have never sang it in my parish and I had never heard it. I immediately fell in love with it and use it as a post-Communion meditation regularly now.

I started a thread months ago on favorite hymns. Several people mentioned “Panis Angelicus”, which I had never heard. I found it and that too was love at first hearing. Then, of course, there is Shubert’s “Ave Maria.”:love:
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Ah, but PNewton, that’s my point. The glories you pointed out aren’t “new,” except to converts like us who didn’t grown up with them. I was comparing our old prot. hymns with the stuff in “Glory and Praise,” and “The Music Issue.” I love the old Catholic stuff, too, and hopefully it will be sung more and more. We did a great deal in choir over the Tridium and people loved it!
 
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puzzleannie:
I’m a Catholic and I miss the hymns described above, especially the 17th through 19th century hymns that while written by protestants are theologically sound and musically inspired. Why we as a church are being punished by having to ban beautiful music and replace it with insipid music, poorly performed by largely untalented amateurs singing banal lyrics is a question for moral theologians. Undoubtedly it is part of the great chastisement that we should suffer this way.
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:amen:
 
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puzzleannie:
I’m a Catholic and I miss the hymns described above, especially the 17th through 19th century hymns that while written by protestants are theologically sound and musically inspired. Why we as a church are being punished by having to ban beautiful music and replace it with insipid music, poorly performed by largely untalented amateurs singing banal lyrics is a question for moral theologians. Undoubtedly it is part of the great chastisement that we should suffer this way.
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I want to DOUBLE that Amen!

I am from a Baptist (and similar) Protestant background, and I sorely miss those old hymns. The “traditional” hymns we sing in Catholic church are just as you describe. I’d like to make a bonfire with the “Gather” books and buy some old surplus hymnals from the local Baptist church. Sure there may be a tiny handful of songs with slightly incorrect theology, but those can be overlooked for the vast majority that have sound theology, beautiful music, catchy tunes and inspire joyful praise. Those songs are the ones you catch yourself singing while working around the house/yard… even when maybe you haven’t heard them in years. They’re that good.

I think my next “hobby” is going to be to take up guitar… IT seems the guitarist is the one who always gets to decide on the songs sung in praise/worship sessions… So, heck, I can “introduce” the cradle Catholics to some of the most beautiful praise songs ever made. Because most of them aren’t in the horrific Catholic hymnals.

-Michael
“Born Baptist, Fulfilled Catholic”… and missing Baptist music
 
The old LCMS “The Lutheran Hymnal” did have some gems. I really miss the organ accompaniment to the singing (Here we mostly have guitars or piano- it just isn’t the same)
 
I am not a convert but I do miss the hyms in my old church that I grew up with…“Jesus Christ has risen Today” “Sing to the Mountians” and the list goes on…
 
“Just As I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. Just as I am without one plea, just as I am , I come, I come.”

I miss the songs that recognize our sinfulness before an almighty God. Most of the songs we sing at our Catholic parish sound more like “We are the body of Christ.” Rah rah aren’t we great!!! There’s a place for that, I suppose, but I really think it needs to be in the proper context.
 
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