Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent

[trickseyhobbit]

Absolutely lovely!

[MrTobytwirl]

Trying to have a theological argument via Youtube comments is idiotic. Great video.

[mottledbrain]

@MrTobytwirl Whaat? Really??

:D

(I once started to try. It wasn't worth the effort. This format doesn't lend itself to real debate. It can be entertaining at times though ... )

Great video. It is a shame, though, that the key verse is missing.

[MrTobytwirl]

@mottledbrain

I agree

[CircleReader]

The title should be "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." "keep silence" as in "respect & obey the order of a season or a practice" -- not "silent" as in "shut up -- be restrained from speaking out." The latter in imposed; the former grows from the heart.

But nit-picking shouldn't be the last word: Absolutely lovely, Deborah -- thank you! We've sung all the verses in our very Protestant church, including the 2nd one that Clawson skips. I'll be sending this out to our email list this morning.

[agapeti]

Thank you Thank you Thank you for putting this song on here. This has been one of my favorite Cynthia Clawson songs for years and I was really glad to get to hear it again. It still blows me away that the echo on the recording was a "mistake". Sometimes God knows better :)

[Seversonronald8]

Actually the words were taken from the Greek Liturgy --- and later there were a

number of musical settings INCLUDING several settings in Gregorian Chant

[MarcusCaddock]

To quote Luther: "... we do not make Christ's body out of the bread ... Nor do we say that his body comes into existence out of the bread [i.e. impanation]. We say that his body, which long ago was made and came into existence, is present when we say, 'This is my body.' For Christ commands us to say not, 'Let this become my body,' or, 'Make my body there,' but, 'This is my body.'"

[MarcusCaddock]

I hope you are not including Lutherans in your broad categorization of Protestants because we believe in something different. Rather, we use the term sacramental union.

[Riderj8]

@MarcusCaddock Martin Luther started the Protestants. See, Lutherans believe in the Real Presence, while other protestants think it's only symbolism. Now we Catholics believe that God is not only present, but that it is His literal body and blood. This is shown by multiple miracles where the Eucharist has turned into a piece of a human heart and the wine into blood. Supported by Scripture, "Eat my body and drink my blood"

[MarcusCaddock]

@Riderj8 I am unsure why you are stating information I already know. Though I should point out that Luther and Zwingli began the Reformation at roughly the same time. The Reformation was about reforming church policy, not starting Protestantism. Before that period, the absolutism of transubstantiation was debated in the Church.

[georgebur]

@MarcusCaddock Yes there was a lot of debate - and with what we know today, we should be more sceptical than ever. Eucharist is symbolic. Jesus likened his bread to his body, wine to his blood. Oh what about the lymph system Marcus - maybe white wine could be for lymph and red wine for blood? For god's sake give us a break!

[MarcusCaddock]

@georgebur Another one giving red herrings in their arguements, just what I need. When did I say that the bread and wine was literally flesh and blood? Why would the colour matter in any case? Catholics would say that white wine is blood when the Eucharist takes place. How strong is your faith if you deny any and all miracles? How can you defend your religious beliefs when you use God's name in vain? What's with "what we know today" farce, are you implying no one used to use reason?

[georgebur]

@MarcusCaddock In that case Catholics are wrong, and it really does not matter who injected the misunderstanding into this Christian denomination. Patently, obviously, clearly, the white wine is white wine is white wine at all times! Denying miracles has nothing whatsoever to do with recognising the worth of the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Yes I am implying that noone in this camp used to use reason, or common sense, and it seems to be too rare a quality today!

[MarcusCaddock]

Are intentionally misunderstanding me? Also, you don't know what "patently" means or absolute realize when questions are rhetorical.

1. I meant that the colour of wine would not matter because it is still infused with God's Word.

2. I do not deny the philosophy of Christ but His miracles shows his divinity, relating to faith.

3. Church fathers did support transubstantiation, in part if not fully. You think no one has cited Augustine who is recognized as one of the greatest theologians?

[georgebur]

@MarcusCaddock

1.  The colour of wine reflects its means of production. it is useful in that it categorises wines to a large extent. It has nothing to do with blood.

2. I don't believe in miracles. Wonderful song by Colin Blunstone.

3. Church fathers did not know very much. Augustine is recognised by Roman Catholics just like Tom Aquinas is - but many great philosophers have lived since they did. None of these people had the world view of others more recent.

[MarcusCaddock]

@georgebur

1. I said the colour doesn't matter because God does.

2. Denying miracles (which I define as God's manipulations of systems He created not avoidance) means denying much of the New Testament. Why would put faith in a belief system you are saying you don't believe in?

3. Just because something is recent doesn't mean it's better (typical American). In fact, Plato is still used by most contemporary philosophers. Augustine is valued by all Christian denominations in one way or another.

[MarcusCaddock]

Now I know for certain you are intentionally misunderstanding me to thinly veil your implications of the invalidity of my arguments when in fact you don't actually care what I have to say. What I originally stated was: the wine and bread does not change on the physical level, it changes on the a priori and spiritual. Therefore I deny both transubstantiation and consubstantiation as I am a Lutheran. You claim to be a Cristian and refuse to believe its most basic tenets, more of an agnostic.

[MarcusCaddock]

@georgebur Wonderful by Colin Blunstone - non sequitor and dreck.

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 You are so mistaken, and you illustrate again (as if I needed any proof) that humans are on the whole very gullible - they will believe anything? I suppose you believe in literal truth of Genesis and Revelation plus everything between the two? More fool you!

[Riderj8]

@georgebur First off, please learn English grammar if you're going to debate in it. Second, when did I ever say I interpret the Bible literally? Also, why are you phrasing an argument in the form of a question? And finally I would liken you to Doubting Thomas who did not see the miracles and did not believe. It's a little confusing how you would refute the claims of the Catholic Church without researching them more, as many scientists are stumped by this very miracle which you claim is false.

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 The story of doubting Thomas is yet another myth. It turns up in Gospel of John only, not the synoptic Gospel. But if you insist it is true, think about it more critically. Why would he have failed to identify Jesus Christ if he had been truly and fully resurrected to his previous physical state? No amount of research into these events can alter the facts. Doubts are an important part of faith.

[Riderj8]

@georgebur It's difficult for the phrase, "doubts are an important part of faith" to be more wrong. Faith is trust. Doubt is not. Research does not alter facts you are correct, but it does lead to ignorant people reading facts. The Gospel of John is Canon so I fail to see how you pointing out that it's only in this is valid to your argument. He did recognize him, that's the point. You don't even know the story do you?

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 "Story" being the operative word. It is a STORY about Thomas and a risen Jesus - something written in a book. What is the most likely explanation for what we read - why someone made the story up of course. Like Adam, Eve, Noah, Jonah ...

[Riderj8]

@georgebur First of genetically we are all related to each other through a single common female ancestor, as proven by the "mitochondrial Eve" found by geneticists. So that is not a fairy tale. (Disclaimer: I'm not saying Genesis should be taken word for word) Now ask yourself, would thousands of people die for a story? No. The Apostles all died for their beliefs with the exception of John. Don't you think one of them would have admitted to making it up?

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 If you believe that, you would believe anything. Geneticists would have no reason to support Eve of the bible. If you do believe in Eve, then please tell me how many million years ago she lived. Was she a human like us, or of a species that preceded humans? Yes I do believe that people will die for fictitious causes just like the apostles, just like kamikaze pilots in World War 2, just like the terrorists of 9/11. Humans have had a long history of martyrdom. Living in a fantasy

[Riderj8]

@georgebur Wow you totally missed my disclaimer didn't you? Can you not read? Geneticists have already found the mitochondrial eve, its a fact, she lived 200,000 years ago. The difference between your offensive and tactless comparisons between the Apostles and terrorists is that the terrorists were told what to do. The Apostles saw Jesus with their own eyes and died simply for proclaiming his words, there was no middle man. They wouldn't have died for a lie of their own design its illogical

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 So the Eve of the Bible was actually a woman living in North Africa? Has the Garden of Eden been found somewhere in Somalia? How do we link her to guys like Abraham, David, Jesus - according to the bible genealogy perhaps?

[Riderj8]

@georgebur Well strictly speaking we aren't sure where humanity evolved. There are teeth that are more closely linked to modern humans in modern day israel that are older than Australopithecus. All humans have been shown to be related to each other, closer than individual german shephards

[georgebur]

@Riderj8 It is not surprising that all humans are related to each other. But the point is that humans have been evolving and if you go back far enough, our ancestors would not be described as "human" in today's terms. Read what Richard Dawkins has to say.

[MarcusCaddock]

@georgebur You're using Dawkins to defend Christianity, what kind of Christian are you? I believe ou are trying to prove Christianity by a posteriori solely and searching for physical proof which totally subverts the foundations of the faith you are supposed to have. Read Kierkegaard.

[georgebur]

One of the misconceptions of mitochondrial Eve is that since all women alive today descended in a direct unbroken female line from her that she was the only woman alive at the time. However nuclear DNA studies indicate that the size of the ancient human population never dropped below some tens of thousands; there were many other women around at Eve's time with descendants alive today, but somewhere in all their lines of descent to present day people there is at least one male.

[MrsVil]

My favorite hymn....324 in the Episcopal hymnal

[happyangelnurse]

My heart keep trembling every time when I hear this piece. May God give us the heart and the voice, so we can join the angels in heaven to praise HIM! Bod bless!

[mottledbrain]

Blessed be Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!!!

[RunFaster011]

this is hardcore

[1616cats]

This is simply lovely...a beautiful hymn.

[spduchene]

Let all mortal flesh keep silent. Marvel in awe at a mere glimpse of humanity expressing the power of God!

[GBart]

I like this song because the title is essentially "hey everyone stfu"

I know of a jazz trio that does their own really interesting version of this song.

[Gandalf930]

If you think that jazz version is an interesting one because it isn't a classical form, then I've got something for you...

A band Frost Like Ashes, where the vocalist is a pastor, did it in blackened death metal style.

[GBart]

weird... but awesome

[erseidler]

where may I purchase this????

[taliesinseven]

My point being that this is a Eucharistic liturgy, absolutely drenched with Catholic and Orthodox belief in the Real Presence and transubstantiation/transelemen­ting. Yet by understanding it as referring merely to the historical birth of Christ, and not to His Eucharistic descent upon the altar, Protestants can sing it with a clear conscience!

[catholicrik]

@taliesinseven .... I do not think that in any way ( save for the changing and or omitting of whole parts of this historic chat ) can ANY protestant sing this song with a "clear concience" it is an old story of protestantism... ie. rebellion ..to throw out the baby with the bathwater. they do not believe that Jesus is substantially present in Body , Blood , Soul , and Divinity duringHost at Holy Communion.

[georgebur]

Protestants do not believe that Jesus is "substantially present" because they recognise that it is all symbolism. It is ridiculous for you to suggest that there is any substantial difference between a Roman Catholic Eucharist and a Presbyterian communion. You are over-mystifying the mundane. Superstition!

[burkardhanis]

@georgebur no, it is very precise understandings of what occurs during the Lord's Supper that keep us separated. Even Luther was askance at Calvin's theology of the Lord's Supper. Read John 6 with the Last Supper narratives and then try to say it is only symbolism.

[georgebur]

@burkardhanis I have read John 6 and a range of other material and come to the same conclusion. It IS symbolism. Burkhard - you must learn to use critical thinking skills .. tell me, what is the most LIKELY explanation for meaning of communion / Eucharist - given also that the bible and Jesus' teaching are crammed full of metaphor and parable?

[burkardhanis]

@georgebur then you need to reread : and they turned away as this saying was very hard

and wonder what was so hard about it? also read the Church Fathers and the Liturgy as celebrated before Prot Revolution.

[georgebur]

@burkardhanis How does the passing of years make old beliefs true today? Surely the risk is that we follow more primitive societies against out better judgement?

[georgebur]

@burkardhanis No problem. John 6 with last supper narratives - all involve symbolism!

[burkardhanis]

@georgebur as a Prot, of course you don't know what you are talking about, reread the Scriptures and Church History, especially the Fathers who wrote in the first generation after the Apostles as well as the Liturgies and Ecumenical Councils and you will find the error of your ways. Peace.

[georgebur]

@burkardhanis There were indeed significant delays from the life of Jesus Christ. to the writing of the gospels, to the activities of the church founders. This is plainly evident to me. as for liturgies and ecumenical councils, what is magic about those, really? Did attendees of those days really have greater insights than people today? You are are great student of the Roman Catholic Church apparently, but does that mean you are a student of reality as well? It think not!

[taliesinseven]

AFaithfulServant is correct. The ultimate source for this is the ancient liturgy of the church of Jerusalem, referred to as the Liturgy of St. James, although it is extremely doubtful whether much of it does in fact go back to the brother of Our Lord and the original Judaeo-Christian congregation founded by St. peter and the other Apostles in the Holy City. What IS interesting is how by turning it into a Christmas carol Protestants have made it something they can sing!

[talltony94]

Fantasia on a 17th Century Theme, arr. Richard Stephan. Based on this song, but for string orchestra and with heavy use of celli. Good in its own way.

[loriisacdd03]

i <3 this song, were playin this song in band :)

[tekiup]

Great artwork, where can I find more?

[Disturbedfan789]

goosebumps...

love the re-verb effect

[Jibjub80]

Overall, this is a good hymn, but not one of my favorites, because of the part, "and with fear and trembling stand." If somebody lives an ethical life out of FEAR, does that truly make one a good person? No. I'd like to think that people generally do the right thing, but not out of fear. After all, we're supposed to trust God, not fear him.

[Zehela]

The reason they say that is because they don't actually mean fear as in hiding away or trembling. They mean fear as in, you respect God and want to serve him. You still love God. We are supposed to trust him. And because of that trust and respect, meaning he is higher than us, we fear the Lord.

[labarum312]

Context is everything. This is actually a communion hymn but many Protestant churches leave out the stanza referring to the Eucharist. It is based on the theology that the Eucharist brings the very presence of God to the faithful. Hence the images of the seraphim with veiled faces. The fear and trembling is not "you better be good" but the awe felt in the very presence of the beatific vision.

[Jibjub80]

Thanks for explaining it Labarum. It is a pretty good hymn which we sing from time to time in the Episcopal church. One of the members of the congregation likes it so much that she actually requests it.

[bets123able]

@labarum312

We sing this song during communion, what each person feels in their heart

about the Eucharist is what 's true for them. This is what we uphold in the

Episcopal church.

[burkardhanis]

@bets123able yep, that is what makes Episcopalians protestants...ex opere operantis rather than ex opere operato

[bets123able]

@labarum312 

[labarum312]

The second and third stanzas (left out here) are the ones I mentioned and they explain it: King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of Light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.

[powellmlx]

Incredible and chilling. Who is this singer?

[DeborahBray]

The singer is Cynthia Clawson and this song is from her CD "The Hymnsinger," her best CD in my opinion with many equally beautiful songs.

[AFaithfulServant]

"Let All Mortal Flesh" has nadda to do with Gregorian Chant. It's derived from the Greek liturgy of St. James from the 4th century AD.

[trompettechamade1]

@AFaithfulServant You are correct that the Liturgy of St. James is Eastern orthodox, but this melody, "Piccardy" in Protestant hymnals, is western plainchant. The sound of this same hymn in the Orthodox churches is very different. Listen to either the Greek/Byzantine or Russian versions and you will see that even in Orthodox churches it has multiple musical settings. Enjoy them all in their diversity. As for perfromances of this versiom, I recommend the one with cor Anglais and organ.

[Shea354]

Beautiful! My dad and I got to sing this piece in our old choir! I absolutely adore this song...it's amazing!

[janeym]

this gives me chills. this tune is so ancient and so holy!

[hey78huy]

Beni soit-il qui vien au nom du Seigneur.

The images of outer space are perfect since we are on a giant rock (Earth) which is spinning and hurling through space at incredible speed toward nothing... God caused the "Big Bang" to create us. Amazing.

[dgeorge3]

magnificent song

[vpfluke]

This is beautiful. It is not Gregorian chant, but a northern French melody, named Picardy. The words are from the (Eastern) Liturgy of St. James.

[janeym]

possibly the origin of the picardy third?

[vpfluke]

Picardy, a folk song, wasn't published until 1848 as: "Jesus Christ s'habille en pauvre". The picardie third is where a minor piece resolves to a major chord on the last note. I'm not sure the hymn tune does this & I'm not savvy about tonic chords. However, since Bach used Picardy thirds and predates the tune, the Picardy 3rd is probably not named after the tune. Yet the eloquent use of a minor key might just be a feature of music from Picardy.

[amessenger4god]

This is beautiful. May God bring peace upon you for your reverant love and devotion to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

[SqueezeShango]

hi i was wondering if you could tell me the name of the artist who created the picture where you see above Jesus on the cross please?

[Norskyone]

Salvador Dali

[CreativeFreak135]

I have heard other verisons of this song on youtube, they are all really crappy, but this is great!

[studyolic]

I think there is a much better version of this old french carol. Look for the version by Christian Forshaw, sung by Aimee Green. It's not on YouTube.

[randyanglin]

Amazing imagery that is an absolute perfect fit for this wonderfully mystical music. Not to mention that there's simply not another singer like Cynthia Clawson.