July 1
Commemorations
Catherine Winkworth, d. 1878
John Mason Neale, d. 1866
Hymn Translators
Reflection
“Now Thank We All Our God,” “Praise to the Lord, the
Almighty,” “In Thee Is Gladness,” “Comfort, Comfort Now My People,” “O Come, O
Come, Emmanuel,” “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice,” “All Glory, Laud, and
Honor,” “Come You Faithful, Raise the Strain,” “That Easter Day with Joy Was
Bright,” “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation.” If this list of hymns leaves you
humming or even singing aloud, it is due to the tireless efforts of the two
hymn translators we commemorate today. Without the painstaking labors of
translators, hymns from across the globe, or even across the border, would
remain “locked” in the language of the original author, inaccessible to other
tongues.
Our Evangelical
Lutheran Worship contains as many translations of Catherine Winkworth as
hymns by Martin Luther. Raised in England
with relatives in Germany,
Winkworth was the foremost translator of post-Reformation German hymns into
English. She was also a leading advocate for women’s rights. She died suddenly
of a heart ailment at age 51.
John Mason Neale, a master of 20 languages, remains the most
important translator of hymns and liturgies from Greek and Latin into English. Suffering
most of his short life of 48 years from a lung disease which kept him from
exercising his priestly duties in the Church of England, he was made warden of Sackville College, and institution for the poor.
He was persecuted, and even mauled, because of his support for religious orders
for women. Despite his many adversities, he gained worldwide recognition as a
writer and translator.
Prayer
Lord God, Continue to empower your Church to raise up and
nurture those who make accessible the rich treasures of hymns and liturgies to
the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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