Johann Franck: A Poet of Faith and the Soul’s Ascent Johann Franck, a name perhaps less familiar than some of his contemporaries in the world of 17th-century German poetry and hymnody, nevertheless stands as a significant figure in shaping the devotional landscape of Protestant Europe. Born in Guben, Brandenburg, on June 1, 1618, into a family deeply rooted in civic service and legal practice, Franck’s life unfolded against the backdr…