Coming Soon! Liber Hymnorum: The Latin Hymns of the Lutheran Church
Wherever you fall on the spectrum of Latin — a scholar, a teacher or student of classical education, or a novice — you will find Liber Hymnorum: The Latin Hymns of the Lutheran Church to be an absolute treasure. Liber Hymnorum is two hymnals in one, the first half being English, the second Latin, exactly mirroring the first half in contents and numbering.
As author, editor, and translator Matthew Carver explains: “This book is a collection of hymns taken exclusively from Lutheran hymnals and chant-books of the Reformation and post-Reformation era. Specifically, it contains the old medieval Latin hymns which Lutheran churches in various parts of Germany still sang at morning and evening prayer (especially in urban areas with Latin schools) with the original Gregorian chant melodies that they used, here with Gregorian melodies with the Latin, and modern notation with the English. It also includes some other ancient hymns sung at the beginning of the Divine Service as well as some Latin carols. Basically, anything I found in old Lutheran hymnals that was (a) in Latin, (b) set to music, and (c) designated to be sung in church, I included.
“Each half is arranged in the form of a church hymnal such as might be used for morning and evening prayers, with the hymns keyed to different times of day (evening, night, early morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon), the days of the week, the seasons of the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, etc.), and Christian festivals of apostles and saints, some more generalized, some for specific saints. After this come the ancient Divine Service hymns for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. These are further augmented by Benedicamus hymns (for the end of the prayer services) and the medieval Latin carols, many of which are familiar to us.”
Over the course of the next week, we will be posting excerpts from an interview with Mr. Carver, addressing such questions as to the translation and settings, how and by whom the hymnal can be used, and why Liber Hymnorum is so unique. To stay informed, like us on Facebook or sign up for (occasional) email updates on the right sidebar.
________
“Matthew Carver has once again done an enormous service for the Church by providing for us his Latin-English Hymnal. This work gathers into one the many Latin hymns that shaped our spiritual forebears as they sought to read and understand and proclaim the Sacred Scriptures in the light of the Church’s historic Christological hermeneutic. Now for English speakers, these classic hymns from the early and medieval church that survived well past the Reformation and helped shape the piety of our great dogmaticians and vernacular hymnwriters can be enjoyed in our own tongue and can help shape our own piety.” -Pr. William Weedon, Chaplain, LCMS Director of Worship
“It is refreshing to find, in one volume, respectable translations (many by Neale already familiar) of Latin hymns I have been chanting all my long life. One applauds this labor of love.” -Fr. Pat Reardon, Touchstone Magazine
________
Matthew Carver was born in Long Beach, California, and attended California State University, Long Beach, earning bachelor’s degrees in Classical Civilization and German Studies. He also studied studio arts, receiving his MFA in painting and drawing from San Francisco Art Institute in 2005. His published works include The Great Works of God, Walther’s Hymnal, The Christian Year of Grace (2014) (trans.), and the Saints Catherine & Maurice Daily Lectionary.
A Review of The Word Remains — Pr. Todd Peperkorn
Pr. Todd Peperkorn has posted a review of our new book, The Word Remains by Wilhelm Löhe, on his blog. Here’s an excerpt, but be sure to visit his website and read the entire thing:
“In this little volume the reader will find that nearly every sentence drips with Gospel infused wisdom. I found myself wanting to highlight every page, until I realized that the whole book is worthy of that kind of careful attention….My best suggestion for this work is to buy and read it straight through, so you have a sense of the whole. But then sit back and let the words linger for a time. Take a couple pages a day and drink them in. Don’t be in a hurry. The words will be there and aren’t going anywhere.”
-Todd Peperkorn in his review: A Hopeful Book by an Old Lutheran
Now Available: The Word Remains by Wilhelm Löhe
We are pleased to offer you The Word Remains: Selected Writings on the Church Year and the Christian Life by Wilhelm Löhe. Originally published under the title of Sein Zeugnis, Sein Leben, this collection of excerpts from Löhe’s extensive writing is now available for the first time in English. Read a more complete description, have a look at the Table of Contents, and find purchase information here.
___________
“Prayer is as necessary for the soul as breathing is for the body. It is…the breath of the soul. When a body stops breathing, it is dead; a soul that does not pray is also dead. But I desire that all your souls live; therefore, it is also my desire that you breathe, that is, pray.” (p. 46)
“Nothing determines eternity but faith — not works nor suffering, not knowledge nor feelings. It is only faith that gives peace and quietness, strength and steadfastness, clarity and harmony of the soul! Running about is worthless. Whoever counts on works, feelings, or knowledge, as if they should make him holy, is lost.” (p. 44)
“It is dawning over the graves, and the cemeteries are fields in which undying hope is blooming. May we stand firm in this, may the Spirit of the Lord seal it in us when we die; and when the ground yields beneath our feet, then may we be certain of this, that we will rise again like our Lord and that, just like the criminal who was crucified next to Jesus, our souls will live with Him in paradise until the day of resurrection. May the Prince of Life in His grace grant us such faith than conquers death.” (p. 68)
“It is a hidden glory in the Christian life to practice faithfulness in little things, that is, in one’s vocation; yet it is more difficult and more glorious than martyrdom. Martyrdom is aided by an agitated time, an emotional disposition, and it is often quickly won; it only takes a brief moment. But being faithful in little things involves bearing patiently the quiet tedium of a monotonous, elapsing life to the praise of the Lord.” (p. 81)
“Therefore, take comfort: it is not all over for those who have fallen asleep in the Lord! They are merely sleeping. He who by His own death-sleep in the grave sanctified our graves as mere bedrooms stands even now at the deathbed, calling, ‘Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden!’ And when He lays them in the dust of death, He says, ‘I will give you rest!’ and ‘Here you will find rest.’ And if death is sleep, then each of the dead have the hope of resurrection.” (p. 64-65)
“Whoever belongs to the Lord confesses; he confesses before friend and foe alike. He is not ashamed of the Gospel but freely admits that he belongs to the Church, whether he be praised or ridiculed, whether he reap sorrow or joy, profit or loss.” (p. 75)
Regarding our Christmas cards…
Earlier this year, the United States Postal Service made some big changes in their shipping prices. The rates for Priority Mail increased considerably, and discounts that are really important to small businesses like ours were eliminated. So it was time for us to restructure how we sell our Christmas cards. Because of these recent postage changes, we are now selling our cards in sets of 15 and 40. The benefit of this is that you can now choose which design and how many of each card you’d like. A quick Google search of comparable Christmas cards shows that our prices are still among the lowest, which means that you can get unique, high-quality, Christ-centered cards for a very good price. Find more details on our Christmas cards page.
*Update 8/6: the discontinued cards are now sold out.
The other piece of news is that one of our discontinued designs is now 35% off. Last year, we introduced an updated Nativity card with a new background, but we still have about 200 of the original design remaining. The artwork (pictured left) is featured on a white background while the inside greeting proclaims, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” If you’d like to purchase these discontinued cards, they are available in sets of 15 cards ($14.95) and 40 cards ($32.50). These prices include shipping. Contact us to place your order, and we’ll send you an invoice for payment via Paypal. These are available on a first come, first served basis!
Six Chief Parts Banner
![Banner[3]](https://emmanuelpress.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Banner3.jpg)
Some very talented members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illnois, have turned our Six Chief Parts artwork into a confirmation banner for their church. Thank you for sharing the pictures with us! It looks beautiful and is packed full of theological symbolism.
Looking for a Confirmation Gift?
Our Six Chief Parts artwork (left), created by Lutheran artist Edward Riojas, features the six chief parts of The Small Catechism in a cruciform shape. It is available as a greeting card or as an 8″ x 10″ print, ready for framing.
The following description of the symbolism is printed on the back of each card and is provided in sticker form with each print for affixing to the back of the frame:
Symbols for each of the six chief parts are arranged in a cruciform shape: tablets of the Law represent the Ten Commandments; chalice and host, the Lord’s Supper; scallop shell with three water drops, Holy Baptism; thurible with incense rising to heaven, the Lord’s Prayer; and crossed keys, the Office of the Keys. Central to all is a triangle interwoven with a circle, symbolizing the Holy Trinity confessed in the Apostle’s Creed. These symbols are charged on a red Latin cross pointing to Christ’s all-atoning sacrifice, which in turn gives life and produces fruit in the life of the Church and her saints.
Seed Grains of Prayer: A Prayer for Holy Thursday
“Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast given us the joy of Thy bread to eat and Thy cup to drink in remembrance of Thy sufferings, we pray Thee, enlighten us that by true self-examination we may worthily receive that Sacrament, in true discernment of Thy presence. Amen.”
-W. Loehe in Seed Grains of Prayer, 20% off through Saturday
*If you’re looking for a helpful tool for reflection and self-examination, consider the Beichtspiegel (“confession mirror”) available in our free Downloads.
Get a Signed Copy of Didache
In between international trips and teaching at Concordia Theological Seminary, Prof. John Pless graciously agreed to sign 30 copies of Didache for us to offer to our customers. In Didache, Pless brings together the Holy Scriptures, Luther’s Small Catechism, and the hymnal to teach what Lutherans confess (doctrine), how we receive Christ’s gifts in the Divine Service (liturgy), and how we pray and live under the cross of Jesus Christ (vocation).
These won’t last long…and they’re also 15% off!
Excerpts from Didache
“The fact that God is our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, shapes how we pray. The Small Catechism’s explanation of the Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer picks up on two words from Ephesians 3:12 — boldness and confidence. Christian prayer is anchored in the truth of the Father’s love given us in His Son. Therefore, we may approach our Father with all boldness and confidence just ‘as dear children ask their dear father.'” (p. 31)
“As the Scriptures carry the Lord’s own authority, they are powerful for accomplishing His own purpose, namely, creating in our hearts saving faith in Jesus Christ. That is what Paul means when he says that the Scriptures are ‘able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Tim. 3:15). Here we see the gracious and effective power that God has invested in His Word. The Word of God creates faith. This is a miracle on par with the creation of the universe; even as God created the heavens and the earth by His mighty Word, by that same Word He creates faith. His Word accomplishes His purpose.” (p. 3)
-John T. Pless in Didache, 15% off during Lent (see sale details below)
God With Us: The Eighth Day of Christmas
“Baptism is greater than circumcision. It is not just for boys. It is not bloody and does not hurt, but don’t fail to notice this is: it is deadly. It drowns the old man even as it raises up the new man, and it attaches us to God. See how it fulfills circumcision? It places God’s name upon us. Baptism is Baptism because Jesus was baptized, because He was anointed for the sacrifice. As His circumcision ended and fulfilled circumcision and counted for us, so also His baptism began Baptism and counts for us. And since He was born under the Law, we are born above it.”
-Pr. David H. Petersen in God With Us, from the sermon for The Eighth Day of Christmas: The Circumcision of our Lord