Bernard the Hymn-Writer

A friend of mine in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod wrote to tell me about an episode of the radio program Issues Etc. that discussed Bernard of Clairvaux, whom the LCMS remembered on August 19. I was curious to find out what a LCMS scholar would have to say on a strong proponent of ascetic monasticism and the power of the papacy, so I tuned in.

What struck me were the remarks of the host in the beginning of the program: “Some of the greatest preachers we’ve had have been our hymn-writers.” He noted that the sermons preached through hymns are heard not only by one audience in one time, but by countless men and women throughout the ages. In this Bernard was no exception, authoring the hymns we know as ” O Sacred Head Now Wounded ,” ” O Jesus, King Most Wonderful ,” and the variously translated ” Jesu, Dulcis Memoria .”

All of these are rich, beautiful, and focused clearly on the adoration of Christ. Which is exactly what liturgical music should be—a supplement to the order of service that lifts our minds to God instead of sinking them back into ourselves. The hymns aren’t complicated either. A second-year Latin student could easily translate all of “Jesu, Dulcis Memoria” without breaking a sweat. And they set the singer on the road to deeper contemplation of the themes they contain.

Simple, strong, and focused on God: not an easy set of criteria for hymns, but a lofty one. Hopefully the writers of the next generation will look to figures like Bernard as models for their craft.

(As an aside, here’s a lovely performance of Victoria’s setting of the first verse of “Jesu, Dulcis Memoria.” I love the way in which Victoria so often captures and distills the feeling behind the text being sung, in this case with the sweet love and deep desire in Bernard’s words.)