Jesus, gentlest [holy] Saviour, God of might, &c. F. W. Faber. [Holy Communion.] This hymn of “Thanksgiving after Communion" was published in his Oratory Hymns, n.d. [1854], No. 20, in 12 stanzas of 4 lines; and again in his Hymns, 1862, No. 91. It is given in its full form in some Roman Catholic hymn-books for Missions and Schools, and altered and abbreviated in various collections, including (1) the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871, as "Jesu, Lord and Saviour"; (2) J. G. Gregory's Bonchurch Hymn Book, 1868, as "Jesus, holy Saviour"; (3) Mrs. Brock's Children's Hymn Book, 1881, as "Jesu, gentlest Saviour"; and (4) Martineau's Hymns, 1873, as "Father, gracious Father." In Nicholson's Appendix Hymnal, 1866, the hymn is divided into two parts, Pt. ii. beginning "Jesu, dear Redeemer." In these various forms its use is extensive.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Raised in the Church of England, Frederick W. Faber (b. Calverly, Yorkshire, England, 1814; d. Kensington, London, England, 1863) came from a Huguenot and strict Calvinistic family background. He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, and ordained in the Church of England in 1839. Influenced by the teaching of John Henry Newman, Faber followed Newman into the Roman Catholic Church in 1845 and served under Newman's supervision in the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Because he believed that Roman Catholics should sing hymns like those written by John Newton, Charles Wesley, and William Cowpe, Faber wrote 150 hymns himself. One of his best known, "Faith of Our Fathers," originally had these words in its third stanza: "Faith of Our Fathers! Mary'… Go to person page >
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