My heart with joy now raises

Author: Johann Mathesius

Mathesius, Johannes, son of Wolfgang Mathesius, town councillor at Rochlitz, was born at Rochlitz, June 24, 1504. He studied for a short time at the University of Ingolstadt. Thereafter he acted as family tutor at Odelzhausen, near Munich, where, in 1526, he found Luther's Von den guten Werken (Wittenberg, 1523); and then while living at Bruck (Fürstenfeld-bruck), near Munich, read two of Luther's tractates on the Holy Communion. Attracted thus to Wittenberg he matriculated there May 30, 1529, studied with great zeal and graduated M.A. in 1530. In the end of 1530 he joined the staff of the school at Altenburg, and in the spring of 1532 was appointed rector of the gymnasium at Joachimsthal in Bohemia. He resigned this post in 1540, and retu… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >