This year marks the 50th anniversary of Fr. Michael Joncas’ beloved hymn “On Eagle’s Wings.” Fr. Joncas wrote this song for the funeral of a friend’s father when he was a young seminarian in 1976.
Over the past half century, the song has become integral to our collective experiences of grief and hope – a mainstay in the repertoire of Christian denominations. The song’s reach would eventually extend far beyond the Catholic Church. It was adopted into Lutheran, Presbyterian and Methodist hymnals. It is standard for funerals, and included in important occasions including Pope St. John Paul II’s visits to the United States in the 1980s, the memorial service after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Luciano Pavarotti’s funeral in 2007, and President Joseph Biden’s 2020 victory speech.
The song’s simple, comforting message of hope and faith in God’s providence has been translated into Spanish, Italian, Polish, and more languages throughout the world. It is a message the world needs, rooted in scripture and the Christian liturgy.
“On Eagle’s Wings” is based on Psalm 91. Fr. Joncas paired the words and themes of the psalm with poignant suspensions, a fluid harmonic shift to the parallel minor in the verse, and a hopeful rising sequence in the refrain. Especially when experienced through communal singing, “On Eagle’s Wings” brings us into the shelter of the Lord where we find refuge and protection as well as the hope and courage to face whatever comes.
In celebrating this important milestone for “On Eagle’s Wings” during a time of international tension and war, we reflect on all it has offered the Church over the past 50 years. How many have been comforted by its music and inspired to greater faith by its words?
Source: ocp.org