John Mason Neale

Thursday, August 7, 2008 -- Week of Proper 13
John Mason Neale, priest, 1866

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 979)
Psalms [83] or 145 (morning) 85, 86 (evening)
Judges 8:22-35
Acts 4:1-12
John 1:43-51

Today is the feast day for John Mason Neale. He was only 46 years old when he died in 1866. He served as a priest less than 25 years, much of that time in poor health. For the majority of his priesthood he was inhibited by his bishop, prohibited from celebrating the sacraments.

Nonetheless he is one of the great translator/authors of hymns for the church's music. More than thirty of his translations and several of his own poems are part of our Episcopal Church Hymnal.

He was a participant in the Oxford Movement, a "high church" party that sought to restore many medieval catholic qualities of liturgy and sacramental theology. His was a problematic stance in a generation which saw bitter party fights, and the defection of John Henry Newman to the Roman Catholic Church. Many people of his generation opposed the Oxford Movement, suspicious that it was secretly aligned with the Pope and trying to undermine the Anglican Church. Neale founded the Society of Saint Margaret, a women's monastic order. (For many years I made retreat with the SSM chapter house in Georgetown, PA. Wonderful order.) Neale was beaten once at the funeral of one of the nuns, and crowds threatened from time to time to stone him or to burn his house. For his fondness of formal liturgy and his theology, his bishop inhibited him in 1847, only five years into ordination. He was restored in 1863 and died three years later.

His health was so poor that he couldn't take his first pastoral appointment, and began work five years later as warden of Sackville College, an alms-house, where he worked until his death. Yet he published many books and collections, including a devotional commentary on the Psalms. But he is best known for his hymns, mostly his translations of Latin texts into singable English metre.

Here are a few that are in our Hymnal.
82: Of the Father's love begotten (5th century)
107: Good Christian men (friends) rejoice (original)
137: O wondrous type (15th century; great Transfiguration hymn)
154: All glory, laud, and honor (9th century; we sing in procession every Palm Sunday)
165: Sing my tongue the glorious battle (6th century; Good Friday and Holy Week hymn)
199: Come ye faithful raise the strain (8th century)
210: The day of resurrection (8th century)
328: Draw nigh and take the Body of the Lord (7th century)
518: Christ is made the sure foundation (7th century)

The latter hymn is wonderfully set to Henry Purcell's tune Westminster Abbey. It has been a standard part of the graduation ceremony at my seminary for more than a century.

I can imagine John Mason Neale's attention to these ancient texts of praise giving him strength for his physical ailments and encouragement in conflict. There is something about studying the past that gives us perspective in the present. Only someone with a long view could live with such fecundity in the midst of the kind of disappointments that haunted Neale.

I want to close with one of his lesser known poems that is set to music in hymns 3 and 4. The first verse is Neale's translation; others are credited with the successive verses, but they worked in the same spirit. This morning hymn from a 6th century Latin text seems a good prayer for beginning the day:

Now that the daylight fills the sky,
we lift our hearts to God on high,
that he, in all we do or say,
would keep us free from harm this day:

Our hearts and lips may he restrain;
keep us from causing others pain,
that we may see and serve his Son,
and grow in love for everyone.

From evil may he guard our eyes,
our ears from empty praise and lies;
from selfishness our hearts release,
that we may serve, and know his peace;

that we, when this new day is gone,
and night in turn is drawing on,
with conscience free from sin and blame,
may praise and bless his holy Name.

To God the Father, heavenly Light,
to Christ, revealed in earthly night,
to God the Holy Ghost we raise
our equal and unceasing praise.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas