I have learned in my life, that music is powerful beyond words, and often does what words alone can never do.Posted on 07/21/2014 3:51:44 AM PDT by markomalley
I have learned in my life, that music is powerful beyond words, and often does what words alone can never do.
Historically, when my soul was asleep morally, it was music that called me back. I joined the church choir to meet girls, but through the music, the Lord showed me a deeper desire in my heart, for goodness, beauty and truth, indeed, my desire for God Himself. The music awoke my sleeping soul to God.
More recently and in a particular way, music often awakens my soul to the deeper meaning of Sacred Scripture. I have often heard or read a certain Scripture which may have had only marginal impact on me. And then the choir takes it up in song, and it is pressed on my heart like never before, such that I can never forget it. My heart and soul are awakened to a deeper meaning of a text.
I have also learned with humility that I may preach boldly, but that it is often the choir’s sung response that makes the thought catch fire. I have learned to link what I preach to what is sung and work carefully with the choir and musicians. For while the spoken word my inform and even energize, the sung word strikes even deeper, engraving the word not only in the mind, but touching the deepest parts of the heart.
There is an old saying:
Bach gave us God’s Word, Mozart gave us God’s laughter, Beethoven gave us God’s fire. God gave us music that we might pray without words. — quote from outside a German opera house
Scripture says the Lord puts music in our hearts and that many, by it will be summoned to faith: The Lord set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3-4)
Yes, music can often reach where mere words cannot.
In the remarkable video below, there is a older man, Henry, who, likely due to a seizures or other age-related factors, had largely turned inward. In fact his very posture illustrates well St. Augustine’s remarkable diagnosis of our problem: curvatus in se (turned in on himself).
Henry’s daughter remembers a lively vivacious man who quite literally danced through life a had such a joix de vivre. But in the last ten years he had shut down and turned in.
Then the miracle, a miracle in something ordinary, yet mystical: music. Wait till you see how it awakens Henry. Quite an astonishing difference. Yes, and suddenly there came the discovery for the staff of the nursing home, and Henry’s daughter, that there was someone “alive inside” Henry’s aging body. Alive indeed, the human soul still deeply touched by the good, the true, and the beautiful.
Henry says when he hears music, “I feel loved….the Lord came to me and made me a holy man…So he gave me these sounds.”
It’s the old Henry, the real Henry, alive and joyful. Where word’s fail, music speaks. Where therapy struggles, music soars.
I am mindful of an older woman I used to visit, Ms. Lorena, she died some years back at age 104. And when I’d visit, there wasn’t much she or I could say. But suddenly, gently, I’d start singing one of those old hymns, “Hmm…By and by….yes, we’ll understand it better by and by.” And Ms. Lorena would light up and join in. She’d sit up straight and be young again.
An old spiritual says, Over my head, I hear music in the air, there must be a God somewhere. Yes, Mr. Henry knows, yes, Ms. Lorena knows, there IS a God somewhere. And when words alone fail, He still calls through music.
Msgr Pope ping
bump for later
Ping!
Islam bans music
Most will say they just like music and let it go at that. But, what they fail to appreciate is the resonant quality of music. Like a fine tuning fork that vibrates when impacted by external sound waves, so it is with the human soul. The internal feelings which music evokes are proof of a soul. That is why music is such an important part of most worship services.
Years ago my good friend came back to town to visit her mother. Her mother had been in an almost vegetative state for some time, cared for in a nursing home and at this point was lying in a fetal position. Jan and I found a hymnal in the chapel and began singing some of the old hymns. Her mother opened her eyes and seemed to respond. Her hands moved. I think she smiled. We sang for about two hours. The next morning they called and she had passed away. Jan believed that she was waiting for her and that the hymns called her home.
I just finished a seminar on sacred art. I’m hoping for one on sacred music.
Scripture says the Lord puts music in our hearts and that many, by it will be summoned to faith: The Lord set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3-4)
Satan hates God and everything about Him. That's why.
Psalm 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXGgKiYSVuE
Favorite! Once started a conversation between me and a cranky neighbor. Turned out he was a nice man, just shy.
Good music certainly stays with you longer than the spoken word. That tune that plays in your head over and over.
Tissue Alert on the video! Absolutely beautiful.
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Remember that Islam is from satan the devil himself.
yep it is
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I believe this is that "old spiritual" Msgr. Pope is talking about there (and I believe Msgr. Pope even uploaded it to youtube himself):
"Over my Head I Hear Music in the Air!"
I also believe this old spiritual is a variation on that version:
"Up Above My Head" - Gaithers and Friends
I was looking on youtube for Cab Calloway's version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" which the older gentleman in the nursing home mentioned on that very moving video, but I could not find that song, but I found this other song done by Cab Calloway and his band:
"Gotta Darn Good Reason Now (For Bein' Good)" - Cab Calloway
This whole article for some reason reminds me of another very pretty Christmas song - even though it's July! :-)
Here is that song:
Finally, I believe these may be some more youtube upload links placed their by Msgr. Pope which I swerved into in my searches, for anyone who might be interested. (Especially recommended to bring a smile - "Euphemisms - George Carlin"):
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