Article May 12, 2008 Issue

BELOVED HYMNS AND HEALING LOVE—A DYNAMIC COMBINATION!

BY ALLISON ROSE

HYMNS HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED A HEALING ROLE in church services and in the individual study of Christian Science. Many people have spoken or written of hymns that helped them overcome disease, grief, pain, loneliness, exhaustion. Sometimes hymns have come to thought after healing is complete, as a kind of song of gratitude and love for God and His tender care.

A sermon Mary Baker Eddy gave in 1878 led to a music-related healing. In later years, Mrs. Eddy remembered: "One memorable Sunday afternoon, a soprano,—clear, strong, sympathetic,—floating up from the pews, caught my ear. When the meeting was over, two ladies pushing their way through the crowd reached the platform. With tears of joy flooding her eyes—for she was a mother—one of them said, 'Did you hear my daughter sing? Why, she has not sung before since she left the choir and was in consumption! When she entered this church one hour ago she could not speak a loud word, and now, oh, thank God, she is healed!'" (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 16).

Mary Baker Eddy loved singing and listening to hymns. Their ability to bring healing, joy, comfort, and inspiration in times of need is a recurring theme