Joshua Bennett
On Eagle's Wings is a Christian hymn composed by Fr. Michael Joncas in 1976 for the funeral of a friend's father. It gained significant popularity in both Catholic and Protestant hymnody and has been translated into several languages, including Italian, Spanish, and Polish. The hymn has been used in several notable memorial services, including the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the funerals of many victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Native American Catholics have a special connection to the hymn due to the eagle motif, and it is often sung at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. The song has also been the subject of controversy, with some critics deeming it saccharine and folksy. Despite this, On Eagle's Wings remains a cherished symbol of Catholic identity and has been referenced by prominent figures such as former U.S. President Joe Biden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Composer | Fr. Michael Joncas |
| Genre | Hymn |
| Religion | Christian |
| Religious Denomination | Catholic |
| Lyrics based on | Psalm 91, Exodus 19 and Matthew 13 |
| Vocal range | A to high E |
| Lyrics | You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in his shadow for life, say to the Lord: "My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!" And he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand. The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear: under his wings, your refuge, his faithfulness your shield. |
| Notable Performances | During Pope John Paul II's visits to the US in the 1980s, Oklahoma City Bombing memorial service, Funerals of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Joe Biden's 2020 election victory speech, Luciano Pavarotti's funeral |
| Criticism | Saccharine and folksy approach to scripture, casts the singer as the main character rather than God |
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What You'll Learn
- 'On Eagle's Wings' is a Christian hymn by Fr. Michael Joncas
- It was originally composed for the funeral of a friend's father in 1976
- The hymn is based on the text of Psalm 91
- It has been criticised for its saccharine and folksy approach to scripture
- 'On Eagle's Wings' is a marker of Catholic identity in popular culture
'On Eagle's Wings' is a Christian hymn by Fr. Michael Joncas
"On Eagle's Wings" is a Christian hymn composed by Fr. Michael Joncas. It was originally composed for the funeral of his friend Doug Hall's father in 1976 and published in 1979. The hymn gained significant popularity in both Catholic and Protestant hymnody. It has been translated into several languages, including Italian, Spanish, and Polish. Native American Catholics have a special connection to the hymn because of the eagle motif.
The hymn is based on Psalm 91, with references to Exodus 19 and Matthew 13. The psalm itself does not contain any references to eagles, but Joncas adds the eagle analogy to the psalm's mention of angels sent by God for protection. The song has a wide vocal range, spanning from a low A to a high E, and contains six- and seven-note leaps, as well as an octave jump.
"On Eagle's Wings" has been used in various contexts, including at the funerals of many victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and at the memorial service after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It was also sung at the funerals of Beau Biden, former American President Joe Biden's son, and Luciano Pavarotti. Biden has quoted the hymn several times, including in his 2020 presidential election victory speech, expressing his pride in being Catholic.
The hymn has been criticised for its saccharine and folksy approach to scripture, with some considering it to be too casual or "reformed-folk." Despite this, it remains well-loved by many Catholics and has become a marker of Catholic identity in popular culture. It has been included in the Gather hymnal, a collection of Catholic sacred music, and was used during Pope John Paul II's visits to the United States in the 1980s, contributing to its popularity.
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It was originally composed for the funeral of a friend's father in 1976
"On Eagle's Wings" is a Christian hymn by Fr. Michael Joncas. It was originally composed for the funeral of Doug Hall's father, a friend of Joncas, in 1976. In January 1976, Jan Michael Joncas visited his friend, Doug Hall, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Omaha, who was studying at the Catholic University of America. Hall asked Joncas to compose a hymn for his father's funeral. The hymn was first performed on April 27, 1976, at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Omaha.
The hymn is based on Psalm 91, with references to Exodus 19 and Matthew 13. The psalm itself does not mention eagles, but Joncas adds the eagle analogy after the mention of angels sent by God for protection. The song has a wide vocal range, spanning from a low A to a high E, and contains six- and seven-note leaps, as well as an entire octave jump. The tune has been described as a "lilting pop melody" and has received criticism for its overly warm and "reformed-folk" style.
Despite the criticisms, "On Eagle's Wings" has gained significant popularity in both Catholic and Protestant hymnody. It has been translated into several languages, including Italian, Spanish, and Polish. Native American Catholics have a special connection to the song due to the eagle motif, and it is frequently sung at the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. The hymn has been used at the funerals of notable individuals, including Luciano Pavarotti and Beau Biden, son of former U.S. President Joe Biden.
Biden has quoted the hymn on several occasions, including his 2020 presidential election victory speech, where he expressed his Catholic faith and pride. The hymn has become a marker of Catholic identity and community, offering solace and comfort to many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been performed by notable artists such as Michael Crawford and Lana Del Rey, further contributing to its popularity beyond Catholic worship.
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The hymn is based on the text of Psalm 91
"On Eagle's Wings" is a Christian hymn composed by Fr. Michael Joncas. It was originally composed for the funeral of a friend's father in 1976 and published in 1979. The hymn is based on the text of Psalm 91, with references to Exodus 19 and Matthew 13. The psalm itself contains no references to eagles, but Joncas adds the analogy of an eagle following the mention of angels from on high sent by God for protection. It is a non-rhyming, close paraphrase of the psalm with free versification.
The first verse of the hymn begins with the words, "You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord/Who abide in His shadow for life." This is a direct reference to the text of Psalm 91, which begins, "You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High/who abide in the shadow of the Almighty." The chorus of the hymn, "And He will raise you up on eagle's wings/Bear you on the breath of dawn/Make you shine like the sun/And hold you in the palm of His hand," is also based on the text of Psalm 91, which speaks of God's protection and care for those who trust in Him.
The eagle motif in the hymn has been particularly meaningful for Native American Catholics, who have found a special connection to the song. The image of being raised up on eagle's wings resonates with Native American cultural imagery and has made the hymn especially popular in those communities.
The hymn has become one of the more commonly used contemporary hymns at Catholic Masses and various Protestant denominational services, finding a strong audience for funerals. Its popularity has surged among the general public after being quoted by President Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, in his presidential acceptance speech. Biden has referenced the song on several occasions, including at the funeral of his son, Beau Biden, and at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2024.
The song's wide vocal range, spanning from a low A to a high E, and its melodic leaps have made it a favourite for many singers, including Michael Crawford and Lana Del Rey, who have both released covers of the hymn. Despite some criticism of its casual style and ""reformed-folk" approach to scripture, "On Eagle's Wings" has become a beloved and widely-used hymn in Christian churches around the world.
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It has been criticised for its saccharine and folksy approach to scripture
"On Eagle's Wings" is a Christian hymn by Fr. Michael Joncas, which has been criticised for its saccharine and folksy approach to scripture. The hymn was originally composed for the funeral of a friend's father in 1976 and published in 1979. It gained significant popularity in both Catholic and Protestant hymnody. The song has a wide vocal range, spanning from a low A to a high E, and contains six- and seven-note leaps, as well as an octave jump. While it has been used to comfort and inspire many, it has also faced criticism for its musical style and lyrical content.
The melody of "On Eagle's Wings" has been described as a ""lilting pop melody" or "reformed-folk" style, with a casual and light-hearted tone. Some critics argue that the melody casts the singer as the main character rather than God, detracting from the sacred nature of the hymn. The song's musical demands have also been a point of contention, with some finding it more accessible to non-professional singers than other hymns. The success of the hymn has been a source of frustration for some traditionalists.
The lyrics of "On Eagle's Wings" have been criticised for being theologically vague and lacking distinctively Catholic content. Traditionalists argue that contemporary hymns like this one fail to capture the theological depth and grandeur of older verses. They believe that the lyrics convey only generic benevolent sentiments and could even be mistaken for the sacred music of other religions. The hymn's opening line, "You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord", has been mocked by fellow composer David Haas as the only hymn that begins with "yoo-hoo".
Some critics have accused contemporary hymns, including "On Eagle's Wings", of sounding like show tunes or Disney songs. They argue that these hymns are too casual and fail to reflect the solemnity and depth of traditional Catholic sacred music. The use of secular crooners and the influence of popular music trends on sacred music have been frowned upon by some within the Catholic Church. There is a desire among traditionalists for music that more closely aligns with their understanding of Catholic meaning and theological substance.
Despite the criticisms, "On Eagle's Wings" has become a beloved hymn for many Catholics, offering comfort and connection during difficult times. It has been used at funerals, including those of notable figures, and has been quoted by former U.S. President Joe Biden, who found solace in the hymn after the death of his son, Beau. The hymn has also gained popularity beyond Catholic worship, with several artists recording their own versions.
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'On Eagle's Wings' is a marker of Catholic identity in popular culture
"On Eagle's Wings" is a Christian hymn composed by Fr. Michael Joncas in 1976 for the funeral of his friend's father, H. Douglas Hall. It is based on Psalm 91, with references to Exodus 19 and Matthew 13. The hymn gained significant popularity and has been used in both Catholic and Protestant churches. Native American Catholics have also found a special connection to the song because of its eagle motif.
The hymn has become a marker of Catholic identity in popular culture. It has been featured in television shows such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where the characters sing the hymn while attending Mass with their mothers. The song has been translated into various languages, including Italian, Spanish, and Polish, further spreading its reach across different cultures.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history, has quoted the hymn on several occasions, including his 2020 presidential election victory speech and the National Prayer Breakfast in 2024. Biden's references to the hymn conveyed his pride in being Catholic and his connection to his faith, especially after the loss of his son, Beau Biden.
The song's inspiring lyrics and melody have contributed to its popularity beyond Catholic worship. It has been recorded by artists such as Michael Crawford, who released an album titled "On Eagle's Wings" in 1998, and Lana Del Rey, who posted a cover of the song on Instagram. The hymn has been used at significant funerals, including those of Beau Biden, Luciano Pavarotti, and victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, providing comfort and connection to those grieving.
"On Eagle's Wings" has become a cherished part of Catholic identity, offering solace and hope to those who embrace it. Its presence in popular culture, from television to social media, has helped spread its message and solidify its place as a symbol of Catholic faith and community.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 'On Eagle's Wings' is a Christian hymn that is popular in both Catholic and Protestant hymnody.
The lyrics to the hymn include: "And he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand."
The hymn was originally composed by Fr. Michael Joncas for the funeral of his friend Doug Hall's father in 1976 and published in 1979.
'On Eagle's Wings' has been quoted several times by former U.S. President Joe Biden, including in his 2020 victory speech and at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2024. The hymn has also been performed at the funerals of Beau Biden and Luciano Pavarotti.
