By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered
By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered. Dietrich Bonhoeffer* (1906-1945), translated by Fred Pratt Green* (1903-2000).
This poem was sent by Bonhoeffer from prison to his mother in a letter dated 28 December 1944, as a New Year Greeting to her and his friends at the opening of the final year of his life, before his tragic execution on 9 April 1945. The German text, beginning ‘Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen’, was printed in a hymn book for young people, Die singende Schar (‘The singing flock’) (Berlin, 1959). The World Council of Churches printed it in Cantate Domino (1974) with a tune written for the words by Joseph Gelineau* (see below). Pratt Green was asked to make an English...
If you have a valid subscription to Dictionary of Hymnology, please log inlog in to view this content. If you require a subscription, please click here.
Cite this article
MLA style (see MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 3rd Ed.)
. "By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Web. 16 Jul. 2025.<
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/b/by-gracious-powers-so-wonderfully-sheltered>.
Chicago style (see The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Ed.)
. "By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered."
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press, accessed July 16, 2025,
http://www.hymnology.co.uk/b/by-gracious-powers-so-wonderfully-sheltered.