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The popular Catholic hymn “Be Not Afraid” has been included in the hymnals of every Christian denomination, but people might be more likely to sing it in a time of fear or grief than at church.
An informal Twitter survey of America readers returned story after story—some of them embedded in this article—of people singing the hymn to comfort dying relatives or when facing intimidating transitions in life.
That’s exactly why the song exists: Bob Dufford, S.J., started writing “Be Not Afraid” when he was, well, afraid.
It was 1972, and Dufford was not a “Father” yet.
He was on a Jesuit retreat, preparing to be ordained and grappling with anxiety about his future:
- Where would he go?
- What sort of work would he do as a priest?
- Would he be any good at it?
His spiritual director suggested that he pray with the Annunciation in mind.
Perhaps he could relate to Mary, who was “greatly troubled” when the angel appeared to her and said she would give birth to the Messiah.
Dufford read the passage, and the angel’s words stuck with him: “Do not be afraid.”
The line “Be Not Afraid” came to Father Dufford on that retreat, with the same melody it has today.
A few weeks later, a friend, Medical Mission Sister Therese Connolly, told Father Dufford she would be leaving to do missionary work in Ghana.
Hoping to finish the song before she left, he started reflecting on the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus says “I am with you always.”
That inspired a second line, “I go before you always,” but he would not finish the song for another year.
“Come, follow me,” came from another Father Dufford song.
He sang a bit of it in a phone interview with America: “It was ‘Come, follow me, I will make you fishers of men,’ and I knew that was not going anywhere. It was a dumb melody, but I had the ‘Come, follow me.’ I kinda liked that part.”
So he added it to his new song, and wrapped up the chorus with “And I will give you rest.”
After the chorus was done, Father Dufford was ordained. He directed a retreat of his own. Finally, in autumn 1973, the verses came to him, fully formed.
The next spring Father Dufford played the song at a liturgical music workshop that his friend, fellow Jesuit songwriter John Foley (composer of “One Bread, One Body” and several other popular folk-inspired hymns), attended.
“Foley came to me and said, ‘You know, Duff, I think this is going to be a really important song.’ I said, ‘Yeah, right,’” Dufford recalled. “[“Be Not Afraid’] always seemed like an ugly duckling…. I cobbled it together.” Continue reading (including a new verse to song).
- Image: The Wire
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