I must admit that I get a little choked up at the last verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Remembering also that Pres. Bush had the US Army Chorus sing this for ” target=”_blank”>Pope Benedict at the White House…
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“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
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“Until the Lord be pleased to settle, through the instrumentality of the princes of the Church and the lawful ministers of His justice, the trouble aroused by the pride of a few and the ignorance of some others, let us with the help of God endeavor with calm and humble patience to render love for hatred, to avoid disputes with the silly, to keep to the truth and not fight with the weapons of falsehood, and to beg of God at all times that in all our thoughts and desires, in all our words and actions, He may hold the first place who calls Himself the origin of all things.”
- Prosper of Aquitaine (+c.455), De gratia Dei et libero arbitrio contra Collatorem 22.61
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Grant unto thy Church, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that She, being gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may be in no wise troubled by attack from her foes. O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication unto Thee,and turn away the scourges of Thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Almighty and Everlasting God, in whose Hand are the power and the government of every realm: look down upon and help the Christian people that the heathen nations who trust in the fierceness of their own might may be crushed by the power of thine Arm. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.
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What a wonderfully happy day for America! We are proud to see the peaceful transfer of power, and pray for God’s guidance and blessing on President Donald J. Trump and this administration, and their families!
God Bless Trump. However, the Battle Hymn of the Republic is a horrible song. Historically speaking, the He in “His Truth” was actually John Brown, one of our most famous domestic terrorists. Let’s stick with America the Beautiful or the Star-Spangled Banner, please.
[So what and who cares? That’s not how 99.9% of people hear it and not how the Army Chorus sings it. Let’s drag out an old award for you for this bit of mud…]
WVC, you have it a little mixed up. I have a personal family connection to the author of the lyrics and I know of its origin and also the origin of the original “John Brown” song which is not as you may think.
Very cool…thanks for sharing. As I live in the biggest Dem stronghold in Iowa, I basically had to be quiet all day in order to survive…surrounded by paranoid Dems, sadly, who are terrified, instead of trusting in Divine Providence. Love the song and thought the fireworks were great…….God bless America. We have been given a reprieve.
Battle Hymn of the Republic:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.
Chorus:
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.
Chorus
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnish`d rows of steel,
“As ye deal with my contemnors, so with you my grace shall deal;”
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.
Chorus
He has sounded from the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Chorus
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I say, why would all of a sudden the hymn be talking about Brown when the subject all through the hymn is obviously about God and Christ? The line right before “His Truth” says: He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword. I am certain that Brown was not capable of that!
Brown’s song had the same tune, but it was a different song.
Another Glory trying to be snatched away from God/Christ.
Fiat Domine, and the original Brown song was a joke from some soldiers who had the same name. Very interesting history there of how folk things happen. It’s like the Methodists using the tunes of drinking songs for hymns as they witnessed in front of taverns. Teetotaler’s revenge.
I meant a joke by some soldiers about a friend with the same name.
I loved your sour grape award dear Father – so very very funny.
I wanted to say that i cried a few times during that Battle Hymn of The Republic video. It was so hard to fathom that on world wide television, The USA was showing such a beautiful welcoming for our new President of The United States of America, with hymn and fireworks that sang about God and Christ and His Holy Death for us! Thanks be to God. Deo Gratias.
A Unionist song, but well-performed. I’ll allow it. (he said, dodging grapes)
[The War of Northern Oppression ended quite a while ago. I am unaware of a similar hymn from the southern region. Is there one? And, I do have another award involving a grapefruit! I haven’t used that one for a while, either.]
So heartwarming to hear.
Remember Our Lady said to say the rosary for peace in the world? I’m certain this is a favour granted by her for all the rosaries said the night of the elections. We might have found ourselves in another world war…
Father,
Thank you for sharing this moving video. Although I am an American, I have to admit I had never listened to the last verse of the Hymn. Listening to it now, mindful of the context of both the time it was written and the time we are living in, moves me to weep.
May God bless our country and our leaders!
He, Trump, reminds me so much of Winston Churchill and his speeches during the war on the BBC (9o’clock evening news. His pugnacious face says don’t mess with America
Ages, ?
Ah, thats fabulous. We here across the pond are pleased that Americans chose wisely. Because it all, flows back…..
Some wymyn, nutters, hippies and others who enjoy life under social welfare allowances met today in London, and caused a general nuisance to traffic, by prancing about with home made posters…..im sure Mr Trump will be uspet.
My first sunday in America was on Memorial day and they sang the Battle Hymn. I also have the link to Dubya playing it for Papa Benedict’s birthday.
Thanks for reminding me of fantastic memories, Fr. Z :)