Interesting that the great Eucharistic Hymn “Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” didn’t make the list. But I wouldn’t have expected it to among Reformed/Evangelical Christians.

Christine

@christine

I believe that, among many Reformed and Anglican congregations, the first stanza of this hymn is often sung as a response, or as part of the Introit where there is no processional (entrance) hymn.

“Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is in the Advent/Christmas section of many hymnals, and the list excludes Christmas hymns.

@Jonathan and Kevin,

It is my experience that in Lutheran and Catholic worship “Let All Mortal Flesh” is sung as an appropriate hymn for Holy Communion because of the reference to the Real Presence of Christ:

. . . 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.

I was surprised not to find “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”. It’s good that “Ein Feste Burg” is more used than these, even if they use ‘bulwark’ and the isorhythmic melody (ick).

@Christine

Picking up on Pastor McCain’s point, the words to “Let All Mortal Flesh…” were written in the 19th century by Gerard Moultrie, an Anglican, (i.e., Reformed) priest. I’ve always thought its use to be primarily in churches of the British/American Protestant (Reformed) tradition.

In my ULCA/LCA/ELCA experience over many years, I’ve never heard it used as a communion hymn. Rather, and most commonly, our best known and most commonly used communion hymn has been, and remains, I believe, “Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness” (“Schmuecke Dich”, a chorale with music composed by Johann Crueger (1598-1662), and text written by Johann Franck (1618-1662).

(I’ve always considered the Anglicans to be liturgically catholic, but theologically Reformed. Perhaps, I’m wrong. But, I’ve never quite been able to figure out where they stand on matters of doctrine. They’ve always seemed to me to be “all over the place”.)

Hi Jonathan,

Actually, the hymn has much older roots in the Divine Liturgy of Saint James going back to the fifth century. I believe the text was translated by Gerald Moultrie.

As for our Anglican friends, not all are liturgically catholic, wavering between the “Anglo-Catholics” and “Evangelical/Reformed” traditions. As for the fact that they don’t seem to be clear on doctrine, that is quite understandable and a reading of the history of the Elizabethan Settlement sheds much light on this. Queen Elizabeth I was Protestant yet is said to have stated that she had no desire to make windows into men’s souls, as long as the people conformed outwardly to the English state religion she was content to let them believe what they liked. You may have heard of what Anglicans refer to — or at least, they once did — the “three-legged stool” of Scripture, Tradition and Reason.

I have heard “Let All Mortal Flesh” more in LCMS congregations than I did in the ELCA of which some parishes unfortunately are also “catholic” liturgically but heterodox in their theology.

By the way, I consider “Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness” a beautiful hymn.

@Kevin N,

Good observation about absence of Advent/Christmas hymns. Yet Lent/Easter hymns obviously are included.

I am glad to see from CT this acknowledgement of the continued strength and “relevance” (ugh — I really hate to use that word) of the Church’s hymnody; however, I do think the methodology of this “survey” is rather suspect.

That “Ein Feste Burg” is found even in Roman Catholic hymnals these days is a great commentary about the popularity of “the Battle Hymn of the Reformation.” This “survey” could not tell you that, as no RC hymnals were included.

Also notice that TLH is obviously left out of the Lutheran hymnal tally.