Wifes SDA bosses claim Luther wrote the music.....

[imroc]

My wife’s bosses, husband and wife, made a claim at the Christmas party this evening that Martin Luther wrote the music for the bells that our Church bells ring.

I read somewhere, briefly that these “songs” are for Christ’s resurrection (morning), crucifixion (noon) and birth (evening). And during Easter other songs are played.

Did Martin Luther really write these? If so, did he write them and the Church incorporate them during his priesthood?

The SDA bosses got a kick out of sharing this with a Lutheran co-worker of my wife, but I decided to stay out of the conversation. One exclamation was, “that made the reform complete!”. I bit my tongue just before I said, “how do you reform a church by leaving?”. I didn’t think it was the time and place, after all, I didn’t think it would turn out to be an enlightening conversation and didn’t want to ruin our Lord’s Advent by starting a debate that could’ve gotten kinda heated.

 

[Gnosis]

Wasn’t Luther ex-communicated before he left? Isn’t that the same as the Church simply telling him to leave?

 

[Ghosty]

Gnosis: Excommunication doesn’t mean you’re being kicked out, it means that the Church recognizes that you have rejected the Faith. Excommunications don’t fall on those who don’t already obstinately reject the Church; it’s more of a clarifying thing, drawing the line in the sand for everyone to see. The intention of excommunication is to draw the person back by showing them how and where they’ve crossed the line.

Sometimes people insist that they’re still a part of the Church while rejecting the Church, and Martin Luther may have been one of those. Considering the fact that he publically burned his letter of excommunication, however, I think he was well aware of his own leaving of the Church.

Peace and God bless!

 

[Akanke]

Gnosis:

Wasn’t Luther ex-communicated before he left? Isn’t that the same as the Church simply telling him to leave?

This document from EWTN may help those who want to learn about the excommunication of Martin Luther. It is the papal bull issued by Pope Leo X, June 15, 1520, Exurge Domine .

I am unsure about any answer to the OP. I will continue to look for an answer to that.

 

[puzzleannie]

which songs? which church? there are several hymns attributed to Martin Luther, including Away in a Manger, and a Mighty Fortress is our God, and some settings for vespers etc., but I don’t know if there is real evidence he himself wrote them. so what if he did? I don’t get the point of your friend’s assertion.

 

[BrianH]

If this helps

Selected Hymns of Martin Luther:
More hymns can be found at the Lutheran Hymnals page.

All Praise to Thee, Eternal God
Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice (German)
Flung to the Heedless Winds
From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee
From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee (German)
From Heaven Above (German)
From Heaven Above (English)
If God Had Not Been on Our Side
If God Had Not Been on Our Side (German)
In Peace and Joy I Now Depart
In the Midst of Earthly Life (German)
Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (German)
May God Bestow on Us His Grace
May God Bestow on Us His Grace (German)
A Mighty Fortress (In German)
A Mighty Fortress (In English): American Lutheran Version
A Mighty Fortress (In English): Frederick H. Hedge version
O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold
O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold (German)
O Lord, We Praise Thee
O Lord, We Praise Thee (German)
Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above
Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above (German)
Savior of the Nations, Come
Savior of the Nations, Come (German)
That Man a Godly Life Might Live (German)
Thou Who Art Three in Unity
We All Believe in One True God
We All Believe in One True God (German)
We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost
We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost (German)

 

[imroc]

Gnosis:

Wasn’t Luther ex-communicated before he left? Isn’t that the same as the Church simply telling him to leave?

I don’t appreciate your hijack of this thread. If you can’t stick to the subject and bring any facts or reason to do so, don’t comment. All you’re going to do is bring up a subject that dozens of other protestant “crusaders” try to bring up and get smashed. It’s already been covered, nearly every week. You’re not original and your attempt is futile and just plain empty.

Now back to the subject at hand. So there are many church bell songs and isn’t a prescribed thing, I gather. I will try to find out which ones they are referring to. But, as mentioned earlier, I really don’t get the big deal out of it anyway. Being that Martin Luther was catholic, I’m sure some of his contributions still remain. Sounds kinda childish to throw out everything when somebody leaves.

 

[flameburns623]

To the best of my knowledge, the RCC does not proscribe hymns because their authors are not Roman Catholic. The issue would be whether the music of the hymn itself is suitable for Catholic worship, whether or not it’s theology is inimical to Roman Catholic theology, and so forth.

 

[puzzleannie]

if we are talking about a carrillon that rings the bells, we are only hearing the tune, not the words, so who cares if the tune is otherwise acceptable? also I doubt it plays during liturgy, so we don’t even have to worry about that (as long as it is not pounding out heavy metal at 6 am and 6pm, which the neighbors might not like).

 

[MusicMan]

I think if the music has a text to it, and the text is not in line with Catholic teaching, then the carillon shouldn’t be playing it. Nor should the organist be using it or an arranged setting of it for a prelude/postlude.

I think it goes without saying, then, that the hymn shouldn’t be sung at Mass either.

Luther wrote some good hymns 500 years ago. Are we still smarting about Luther’s departure from the Church today? Is that necessary? If the text of the hymns wash with Catholic teaching, who cares if Luther wrote the music? It doesn’t matter anymore. I’d be more concerned about our contemporary choirs singing Christian rock music that doesn’t wash with Catholic teaching than whether or not Martin Luther wrote the music for a hymn. The modern Christian rock music is far more dangerous to our young people than the music of an excommunicated priest from the 1500s.

 

[imroc]

I would like to apologize for my tone earlier when I lashed out against the hijacker of this thread. I did not want to sound like I was trying to jump those who responded to his/her ignorant reply. This person got off the subject and I would like to thank you for correcting their claim. I would never want to sound like a proper response to the devil’s claims is not warranted. I’m sorry.

 

[MrS]

imroc:

I would like to apologize for my tone earlier when I lashed out against the hijacker of this thread. I did not want to sound like I was trying to jump those who responded to his/her ignorant reply. This person got off the subject and I would like to thank you for correcting their claim. I would never want to sound like a proper response to the devil’s claims is not warranted. I’m sorry.

got your IRISH up I see, huh
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_28_2.gif

no, this lad is not playing a song other than Irish !!