On Eagle's Wings

The story of this hymn

Michael Joncas — later ordained a Catholic priest — composed this setting of Psalm 91 in the mid-1970s, after he and a close friend came back from a meal to the news that the friend's father had died of a heart attack. It was first sung at that man's wake. Published in 1979, it moved out from Catholic parishes into nearly every tradition, and after the September 11 attacks it was sung at memorial services across the world — a hymn people reach for when grief is public.

Where it sits in the service

A fixture of Catholic funeral Masses — usually at communion or the final commendation — and increasingly chosen far beyond them; it also suits the graveside. The verses are normally taken by a cantor or soloist with everyone joining the refrain, so mark the programme 'verses: cantor, refrain: all' to spare the congregation guessing.

In the programme, list it in the order of service as “Hymn — On Eagle's Wings” with the leader or choir named beside it.

How it is actually sung

The most-sung funeral hymn in Catholic parishes and widely used well beyond them. It is a setting of Psalm 91 and the refrain is what everyone knows. It suits the Communion or the recessional, and a cantor leading with the congregation on the refrain works better than full singing throughout.

Printing the words

In copyright. This page describes it rather than printing the text; ask the parish office, which will know exactly what their licence covers, since this hymn is used at nearly every funeral there.

This is practical guidance rather than legal advice. Reproduction rights vary by territory, by hymnal edition and by the licence your church holds — the church office is the right place to ask, and they answer this question often.