Perhaps you read The Christian Century and saw Peter Marty’s piece on Lutheran Pastor Martin Rinkart who in 1636 wrote the hymn “Now Thank We All Our God”.
It was during the 30 years war. There was famine and pestilence. He was doing 50 plus funerals a day sometimes, and often more than 400 each week. In the midst of trying times, he wrote the hymn as a table grace for parishioners who likely had little on their tables.
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