Relief commemorating Hans Adolph Brorson

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This tribute in Ribe Cathedral (Ribe, Denmark) honors the life and work of Hans Adolph Brorson (20 June 1694 - 3 June 1764), who is laid to rest there. Brorson was a Danish Pietist bishop and hymn writer who started publishing hymns in 1732 as a pastor in southern Jutland. Below the figure of this high relief are the final four lines of the last verse of his work "The Finest Rose is Found," a Danish Christmas he wrote in 1932: "Let the world take everything from me, let thorns pierce and tear, let my heart only beat and break, I'll never lose my rose!" His most significant contribution was "The Rare Jewel of the Faith" (1739), which included many translations of German Pietist hymns and 82 original pieces and went through seven editions during his lifetime. He was elected bishop of Ribe in 1741, where he remained for the rest of his life. His outward success as a church administrator contrasted with private sorrows (an insane son, the early death of his first wife) but he accepted his fate. Some of these problems are probably reflected in a second book of hymns, "Swan Song," that was published posthumously in 1765. From this collection must be mentioned the still popular and hopeful funeral hymn "Here will be silent." Almost forgotten after his death but rediscovered during the romantic period Brorson is now ranked among the four greatest Danish hymn writers. His style is not as strong as that of Kingo but in return he is more of a lyricist. Besides, he is perhaps the first important Southern Jutland poet in Danish literature. The Christmas hymn "The Finest Rose is Found" (1732) is included in the Danish Culture Canon. Brorson's lyrics formed the basis of the first two of Edvard Grieg's Fire Salmer, 'God's Son Has Set Me Free' and 'O but You Are Beautiful.'