Hear Us, Father, When We Pray
Hear us, Father, when we pray
This hymn embodies Lutheran confidence in the efficacy of prayer grounded in God's promise and Christ's intercession, reflecting the Small Catechism's emphasis on prayer as a means of grace. It teaches that God actively hears and responds to the prayers of believers, consistent with Lutheran teaching on the communion of saints and intercessory petition.
History & Background
Written by Henry Downton in the 19th century as a hymn focused on intercessory prayer and God's attentiveness to the petitions of His children. The hymn has been included in various Lutheran hymnals including Lutheran Service Book where it appears as hymn 773.
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 773
Bulletin Note
Written by Henry Downton in 1863, this Common Meter hymn reflects classic Lutheran trust in prayer as a means of grace, grounded in God's Word and Christ's intercession for believers.
Preaching Connection
This hymn anchors the Gospel promise that our access to God's mercy depends entirely on Christ's mediation, not our worthiness—a truth that both humbles the confident and lifts the despairing.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Third Article (Concerning Sanctification) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Human vulnerability (L) met by God's protective providence and eternal watchfulness (G), calling for trust and gratitude
Themes
Prayer Petition God's mercy Intercessory prayer Christian devotion