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Where Charity and Love Prevail

Where charity and love prevail

Where Charity and Love Prevail is a hymn text by Latin hymn traditionally attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch, English text by Omer Westendorf (1960) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Omer Westendorf. Found in CW21 727, ch95 524, elw 645, hs98 878. Sung to UBI CARITAS.

This hymn emphasizes the centrality of agape love as the defining characteristic of Christian community and the incarnational presence of Christ within it. For Lutherans, it underscores the doctrine of the communion of saints and the mutual care commanded in the new commandment of Christ.

History & Background

The Latin original 'Ubi caritas et amor' dates to early Christian tradition and is often attributed to St. Ignatius of Antioch (1st-2nd century). Omer Westendorf created this English translation in 1960, which became widely used in both Catholic and Lutheran worship.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 727
  • Chalice Hymnal — 524
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 645
  • Hymnal Supplement 98 — 878
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 126
  • Lutheran Service Book — 845
  • United Methodist Hymnal — 549

Translation

Omer Westendorf

Bulletin Note

This Latin hymn, traditionally ascribed to St. Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107), was given this beloved English text by Omer Westendorf in 1960. It captures the incarnational reality of Christ's presence in the communion of saints.

Preaching Connection

This hymn transforms the Law's demand for neighbor-love into Gospel joy by anchoring Christian community not in human effort but in the real presence of Christ dwelling where charity prevails.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From the presence of God in charity (1), through learning Christ's love sacrificially (2), to mutual forgiveness and reconciliation (3), culminating in peace under God's fatherhood (4)

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

LSB 845 (Hymn of the Day for Maundy Thursday). From the Latin 'Ubi caritas et amor', usually dated to the 9th century (Hymnary lists dates from the 5th to the 9th). In the Middle Ages it was sung as the last hymn on Maundy Thursday with the ceremony of foot-washing, after Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet (John 13:1–17); Lutheran congregations usually stress the institution of the Supper that day instead. English by Omer Westendorf, 1961. The LSB study links it to 1 John 4: God's love in Christ's sacrifice binds us ('Brought here together by Christ's love / By love are we thus bound') and shapes a servant love that forgives.

Sources: hymnary.org; LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (Gifford A. Grobien).

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Proper 10

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Trinity 1 (2×)
  • St. Barnabas (1×)
  • Trinity 13 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Proper 10 (3×)
  • Epiphany 3 (1×)
  • Epiphany 7 (1×)
  • Maundy Thursday (1×)
  • Proper 14 (1×)
  • Proper 17 (1×)
  • Proper 18 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Themes

Christian love and charity Unity of the church Mutual service God's presence in community

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