Inside the Creation of 'On Eagle's Wings': Archival Notes and Father Joncas' Musical Legacy
By David Miller
The origins of the hymn trace back to a specific evening at the Saint Paul Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Joncas, then a young seminarian with a deep passion for liturgical reform, received word that the father of his close friend Douglas Hall had suffered a fatal heart attack. Hall and Joncas had worked together on campus ministry projects, and Joncas felt compelled to offer something beyond standard pastoral platitudes.
He turned to the ancient scriptures assigned for protective vigils, particularly Psalm 91. Rather than drafting an abstract theological essay, Joncas framed the sacred text through personal vulnerability. He wrote the melody quickly, testing the vocal line against an acoustic guitar and a worn upright piano. The opening refrain took shape around the imagery of divine shelter: the promise that God would raise the believer up on eagle's wings and hold them in the palm of a divine hand.
The piece was sung the following morning at the funeral Mass. Those present remembered an immediate emotional stillness falling over the chapel. Joncas initially viewed the composition as a private pastoral gift, not a publishing candidate. He tucked the sheet music into a folder of parish arrangements, unaware that visiting musicians would soon carry handwritten copies across the Upper Midwest.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
