That makes sense, and I do intend to continue using the hymn. I'm a convert from Lutheranism, so I'm still working through my personal theological baggage.

I like the tune with the lyrics "O Jesus Christ, Remember".

Otherwise, I can't help but think of Fr. Zuhlsdorf's satirical take: "The Church's One Foundation is B-I-N-G-O . . ."

So I like it a lot, having recently done a deep dive into the hymns that I know from my days in a conservative parish that also had the TLM and the ones that I could (potentially!) try out with the people here on occasions where the hymns are not currently satisfactory.

I also am fond of AURELIA but thanks. Now I can’t un-hear it.

The text is almost about virgins though because so much of what is true for the church is true of consecrated women religious who, ideally, are also virgins. But it’s a summary of the Apostles’ Creed: what is the holy catholic church (and implicitly the Nicene form: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic).

It is Anglican in origin but it’s not meant to be anti-Petrine. If it is taken as such, then the person is kind of a ninny. Everyone should hold that the foundation is Christ. (Yes, Peter is also the rock; no, it’s not easy to explain.)

Like, how many foundations does your house have??

As I am also a convert from Lutheranism (LC - Missouri Synod), I have a personal dilemma with that hymn. Where I grew up, it was sung, intended, and expounded in sermons about how it is specifically a rebuttal against petrine, papal, and traditional authority.

That said, I feel as if those are aspect that were read into the text of the hymn, while the hymn itself doesn't mention those things.

This verse should NEVER be sung in a RCC, but a few poorly edited hymnals have included it (because of the love affair with The Episcopal Church):

”Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore opprest,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distrest;
Yet saints their watch are keeping
Their cry goes up, ”How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song."

Heretics and schismatics are not part of the Church, although the hymn implies that. It is implied because that is true for Anglicans (much as it makes some Anglicans chafe to the point that they enter the Ordinariate).

What do you think of "O Christ the Great Foundation," which is also sung to AURELIA. The author was Timothy T'ingfang Lew (I think he was Presbyterian). It is in Worship, 3rd edition. My parish sang this hymn when we had that hymnal. I liked the 4th verse, but we rarely sang 4 verses of anything at the time.

https://hymnary.org/text/o_christ_the_great_foundation/

Heretics and schismatics are not part of the Church, although the hymn implies that.

Of course they are. "The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter" (Lumen Gentium 15). You can't be a Christian unless you're part of the Church. If protestants are Christians they are, ergo, (albeit imperfectly) part of the Church.

What do you think of "O Christ the Great Foundation," which is also sung to AURELIA. The author was Timothy T'ingfang Lew (I think he was Presbyterian). It is in Worship, 3rd edition. My parish sang this hymn when we had that hymnal. I liked the 4th verse, but we rarely sang 4 verses of anything at the time.

https://hymnary.org/text/o_christ_the_great_foundation/

I love this text. It does seem likely, though, that at some point it was amended, and not entirely skillfully. The third line of the 2nd verse almost certainly originally had "united" as its 5th, 6th, and 7th syllables, to rhyme with "invited" in the following line.

Good catch! Could be a rhyme with Spirit.

To guard the Church and steer it, comes to mind.