Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isaiah 40:15
Something for the weekend. To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King. Written in 1941 by Father Martin B. Hellriegel, a German-American pastor in Saint Louis, as a direct response to the pretensions of the Third Reich and to remind people who actually reigns eternally. We Americans have traditionally understood that God is in charge: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Abraham Lincoln ringingly set forth what this section of the Declaration means: “These communities, by their representatives in old Independence Hall, said to the whole world of men: “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This was their majestic interpretation of the economy of the Universe. This was their lofty, and wise, and noble understanding of the justice of the Creator to His creatures. [Applause.] Yes, gentlemen, to all His creatures, to the whole great family of man. In their enlightened belief, nothing stamped with the Divine image and likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on, and degraded, and imbruted by its fellows.”
Nothing could be further from the nightmarish ideas that fueled the Third Reich, and Father Martin B. Hellriegel in his magnificent hymn conveys this majestic conception of God and of humanity under God.
To Jesus Christ, our Sov’reign King,
Who is the world’s salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.
Refrain: Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!
2. Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev’ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation.
(Refrain)
3. To Thee and to Thy Church, great King,
We pledge our hearts’ oblation,
Until before Thy throne we sing,
In endless jubilation.
“Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev’ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation.”
This part really spoke to me. Gorgeous 🙂
We have always loved this song and sing it with heart! It is good to know its author and his thinking behind it. Thank you!
It is a song that acknowledges the truth. He is in charge- a comforting song of trust. Not only is He King, He gives us constantly the great gift of His Church which also begs our love and sacrifice.
Our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. He will come again, in glory, to judge the living and the dead.
And, Christ’s will subdue all His enemies. And, they will be placed under His feet.
We need to pray for Christ’s enemies, those most in need of His mercy. If they don’t repent, confess, do penance, amend their lives, and by good works glorify God, the Father Almighty, thoriugh Our Lord, Jesus, they will be Christ’s foot stools; and spend eternity in disgrace and unquenchable fire.
We have no president but Christ.
I am proud to say that my maternal grandfather, Henry Brinksmeyer, was the organist at Holy Cross parish in St. Louis when Monsignor Hellriegel was the pastor.
My mother still has a photo of Monsignor Hellriegel that he gave to my grandparents.
Fascinating George!
An oldie I can NEVER hear to much. I sing it quietly, sometimes, as I walk through the halls of the Federal Building where I work. My singing and smile
is noticed. It is sung far too infrequently at Mass in my hometown.
I have another version of it on my PC for inspiration. It always lifts my spirits
when I have the opportunity to join with others singing it.
Good call!
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