Faith of our Fathers

Today, being Father's Day, in churches across the English speaking world, the hymn "Faith of our Fathers" will undoubtedly be sung as we remember and express our appreciation for our fathers.

But did you know that "Faith of Our Fathers" was written by a Roman Catholic priest named Frederick William Faber to remind Catholic congregations in England of those 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. 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.

Of course, this verse was omitted or changed by Protestants when they discovered the hymn.

But the sentiment behind this song is profound, although I expect that many congregants miss it when they sing its familiar words. The call of the song is to follow Christ even to the point of death, to remember those who have already made this sacrifice and to follow their example, and to provide a model for the coming generation in the hope that they, too, will follow Christ with the same dedication (see verse 2 below).

Verse 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!
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!

Verse 2

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free.
How sweet would be their children's fate
If they, like them could die for thee!
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!

Verse 3

Faith of our fathers! God's great power
Shall win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then be truly free.
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Verse 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.
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!

Verse 5

Faith of our fathers we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee!
And thro' the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then be truly free:
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!

Fathers, can we truly sing these words? Do we want to see our children live lives that invite persecution because of their zeal for the Lord? Is it our desire to see them give their lives for the Kingdom of God greater than our desire to see them succeed in life through the possession of a good education and occupation? Do we actively encourage them in this direction? Do we provide a model of such priorities? Could we honestly say, How sweet would be my children's fate if they, like believers around the world today, could die for thee?