Music leads pianist to a life of Catholicism (former atheist converts)

SF Chronicle ^ | 6/20/05 | David Ian Miller

[ninenot]

"...fashionably agnostic contemporaries..."

I doubt that anyone on this thread could name THREE of the above...myself included, certainly.

[ninenot]

Well, it seems that she was raised "Christian," meaning that her move to the RC was more a half-step than a whole one.

[ninenot]

Whew!

For a moment there, I thought you were describing the ooze of the St Louis Jesuits...

[aristotleman]

I actually like Messiaen's organ music. It is quite severe
and intellectual in its structure, but I do like
his rhythmic sense and non-traditional sound inventions.

I never feel the presence of God through his music though.

Only Machaut can do that for me. Maybe Leonin and Perotin.
Or some of the dutch masters.

[Prod Convert]

The lady is a pro musician, with far more refined tastes and greater sensitivity than average. Praise God for her aesthetic sense, and we'll be looking for her continued creative effort in her new role as an oblate. It is her gift, and we hope her gift to Catholic music. It will be good to have a serious classical contribution to modern Church music in addition to the semi-pop, feel-good stuff that has come on since Vatican II.
Try this http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000005J1C/qid=1119297434/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2662497-7898469
for a definitely modern but definitely religiously exalted composition.

[little jeremiah]

later read/ping.

[Republicanprofessor]

Classical music ping. Let me know if you want on or off the list.

[little jeremiah]

JOHANN SEBASTION BACH....

[sitetest]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting thread.

[good old days]

Please add me to the list

[foreshadowed at waco]

I think that the main feature of the Catholic Church that excites the intellect of many is its mysticism--the Catholic Church, as far as I know, is the only Christian Church that believes in the transubstantiation--that part of the Mass where the Eucharistic wafer and the wine become the body and blood of Christ--it is not merely a symbolic re-enactment--it is a sacrament--only baptized Catholics who have received the sacrament of Holy Communion (now called Eucharist) are permitted to receive communion in a Catholic Church.

Plus we have a lot of great art including beautiful churches all over the world. Also St. Thomas More, Aquinas, Pascal, de Chardin, and other great theologians.

[ccmay]

I thought you were describing the ooze of the St Louis Jesuits...

I don't have the remotest idea what you mean here.

-ccm

[ninenot]

It's rather difficult to define "the presence of God...[felt] through music, I think.

But Gregorian Chant (not psalm-chant--the real stuff) can give one a lift, anyhow.

[ninenot]

De CHARDIN???

Are you out of your mind? The guy is a friggin' HERETIC!

[ninenot]

Here's your quote:

and were some of the most banal and repetitive dreck I've ever heard. The simple melodies were as dull as dishwater. Even so, barely one in ten people was really singing whole-heartedly. These are not churches for people who wish to contemplate the Infinite in music

...which describes to a "T" the dreck hymnody of the "St Louis Jesuits."

Take, PLEASE take, "Yahweh, I Know You Are Here."

[ninenot]

Or some of Durufle...

[Salvation]

Dick Morris, Sam Brownback, Peggy Noonan to name a few more.

[Salvation]

You may be mistaken here: Looks like he converted in his late, late years:

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/lewis/general.htm - By the time of his death, Lewis had moved from Idealism (no idea of a personal God) to Pantheism (an impersonal God in everything) and then to Theism (the existence of God). In Letters to Malcolm (p. 107), Lewis indicates that shortly before his death he was turning toward the Catholic Church. Lewis termed himself "very Catholic" -- his prayers for the dead, belief in purgatory, and rejection of the literal resurrection of the body are serious deviations from Biblical Christianity (C.S. Lewis: A Biography, p. 234); he even went to a priest for regular confession (p. 198), and received the sacrament of extreme unction on 7/16/63 (p. 301).

[churchillbuff]

For some reason Catholicism has a strong link to intellectuals... examples: William F. Buckley, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis"""

CS Lewis wasn't Roman Catholic. Never became Roman Catholic. Made it clear in his letters that he thought that Roman Catholics believe in doctrines that go beyond Christian doctrice - for instance, he said in one letter that Roman Catholicism, or at least its practice in some place, raises Mary the Mother of Jesus to "co-redemtrix."

[churchillbuff]

the Catholic Church, as far as I know, is the only Christian Church that believes in the transubstantiation"""

Eastern Orthodox believe in something akin to transubstantiation. Many Anglicans do as well.