"FAITH OF OUR FATHERS"
The song “Faith of our fathers” is probably sung by many Christians with the patriarchs or apostles or the saints of Hebrews 11 in mind. The song was written by Frederick Faber, a Roman Catholic, and indications are that he intended in this song to venerate the church-of-Rome fathers and the “holy catholic faith”. "Faith of Our Fathers" was written by Faber to remind Catholic congregations of their many leaders who were martyred during the reign of Henry VIII in the early days of the establishment of the Anglican Church in Great Britain. The text first appeared in 1849 in Faber's collection "Jesus and Mary" or "Catholic Hymns for Singing and Reading". It was always Faber's hope that some day England would be brought back to the papal fold. One of the omitted verses from his original text expresses this thought:
Faith of our fathers! Mary's prayers
Shall win our country back to thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
England shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We would be true to Thee till death.
The other verses are as follows:
Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
The song “Faith of our fathers” is probably sung by many Christians with the patriarchs or apostles or the saints of Hebrews 11 in mind. The song was written by Frederick Faber, a Roman Catholic, and indications are that he intended in this song to venerate the church-of-Rome fathers and the “holy catholic faith”. "Faith of Our Fathers" was written by Faber to remind Catholic congregations of their many leaders who were martyred during the reign of Henry VIII in the early days of the establishment of the Anglican Church in Great Britain. The text first appeared in 1849 in Faber's collection "Jesus and Mary" or "Catholic Hymns for Singing and Reading". It was always Faber's hope that some day England would be brought back to the papal fold. One of the omitted verses from his original text expresses this thought:
Faith of our fathers! Mary's prayers
Shall win our country back to thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
England shall then indeed be free.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We would be true to Thee till death.
The other verses are as follows:
Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.