Be Still, My Soul

Be Still, My Soul was sung at a memorial service in Northern Italy on Sunday, March 11, 1945, in the regimental rest area.

“While preparing for the final push into the Po River Valley, which was the last formidable Nazi defense, the men of the 350^th Infantry “Battle Mountain” Regiment held a memorial service to honor their members who had died in action over the last year.

“The newly formed 40-man regimental Glee Club sang “Be Still My Soul” and an address by Colonel James C. Fry inspired the men with his vivid recollection of their last year in combat, and closed the service with a reminder to the troops of their duty to their God and country.”

 

 

My uncle read about that service in the books he’s been reading on my Grandpa’s war years.  My Grandpa was at that service.  Grandpa told me on the phone last night that it was in a big open field twenty miles away.  There were thousands of people there.  The whole division went but they didn’t have enough trucks.  So half of the division walked and half rode.  On the way home, they switched. 

This was six months before the end of the war.  It’s surreal to me that in the middle of these intense battles, they stopped to have a service in a big open field.  Actually I can’t fathom the whole thing: the memorial service, living through what they did, seeing their friends die. 

What an amazing time that must have been to stand there and remember while getting ready to press on with their duty. 

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

 

words by Ka­tha­ri­na von Schle­gel

 

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."