Faith of Our Fathers
Today on Father’s Day, we look at the hymn Faith of Our Fathers. Although sung in Baptists church and other similar churches with a newer third verse, this hymn is a Catholic hymn, written initially to remember the Catholic martyrs who were under the persecution from the Church of England. As initially written, the author penned two versions – one for England and one for Ireland. The English version is the version rewritten as a Protestant version, published in Baptist hymnals. You can read the lyrics below.
I trust you will enjoy this great hymn as you read the lyrics. Be sure to check out the YouTube videos below as well where you can sing along.
Faith of Our Fathers Lyrics (modern Protestant lyrics)
1 Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword:
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
2 Our fathers, chained in prison dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children’s fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee! [Refrain]
3 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: [Refrain]
4 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: [Refrain]
The Theology
This hymn honors those who had been martyred. The original version reflects Catholic theology as both a prayer to Mary and reflecting a deep commitment to the historical holy faith of the Catholic church. For these reasons, various versions have been written. There is a version specifically for martyrs, many versions for fathers, and some for mothers.
The current Baptist version reflects a desire to be faithful to the faith passed down through the generations, a desire to see the nations saved, and a desire to live faithfully for God. We do rejoice in the faithfulness of those who have gone before us. What a privilege to have had men through the ages stand up for truth – even when it has cost them their lives.
The Author and Composer
Frederick W. Faber, author
Raised in the Church of England, Frederick W. Faber (b. Calverly, Yorkshire, England, 1814; d. Kensington, London, England, 1863) came from a Huguenot and strict Calvinistic family background. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and ordained in the Church of England in 1839. Influenced by the teaching of John Henry Newman, Faber followed Newman into the Roman Catholic Church in 1845 and served under Newman’s supervision in the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Because he believed that Roman Catholics should sing hymns like those written by John Newton, Charles Wesley, and William Cowpe, Faber wrote 150 hymns himself. One of his best known, “Faith of Our Fathers,” originally had these words in its third stanza: “Faith of Our Fathers! Mary’s prayers/Shall win our country back to thee.” He published his hymns in various volumes and finally collected all of them in Hymns (1862).[1]
Enjoy This Media
Some groups singing the song from YouTube:
Here is a congregation singing the the hymn.
Here is a piano version of the song that you can sing along with.
Here is one of the earliest published copies of the song written for England from Hymns and Songs for Catholic Children, hymn #179 from 1870 [5]:
Here is one of the earliest published copies of the song written for Ireland from The Catholic Youth’s Hymn Book, song #103 from 1871 [4]:
Here is what’s known as a Protestant version from Favorite Hymns of Praise #423 [6]:
Link to Other Blogs in this Series
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together