Posted on 04/25/2008 12:31:30 PM PDT by NYer
.- This week the Italians took their turn at showing their affection and respect for the Pope by hosting a classical music concert in honor of his third anniversary and birthday. Benedict XVI thanked the choir and the orchestra for sharing the gift of music with people. Music, he said, has a spiritual value because it can “infuse hope into the human soul.”
The concert was offered by the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, who met with the Pope for 15 minutes beforehand. The meeting was characterized by the Vatican as one of “great cordiality” and included a discussion of the Holy Father’s recent U.N. address. Following their conversation, the heads of state proceeded to the Paul VI Hall to attend the performance.
The concert featured pieces by Luciano Berio, Johannes Brahms and Ludwig van Beethoven and was performed by the Giuseppe Verdi symphony orchestra and choir of Milan.
Pope Benedict followed the concert from the central aisle of the hall alongside President Napolitano and his elder brother Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. Both Ratzinger brothers are avid classical music fans and musicians themselves.
At the end of the concert, Benedict XVI thanked the Italian president for the concert in which, he said, "I discern a further sign of the great affection the Italian people nurture for the Pope".
Having extended his gratitude to the choir and the orchestra, the Holy Father encouraged the Giuseppe Verdi Foundation "to continue the prestigious artistic and cultural journey they have begun, which, I am aware, is also enhanced by their commitment to use music to mitigate situations of human difficulty, such as in hospitals and prisons".
The Pope explained that there is a “spiritual value” to the art of music which, “in a special way, is called to infuse hope into the human soul, marked and sometimes injured by its earthly condition.
“There is a profound and mysterious relationship between music and hope, between song and eternal life", the Holy Father said. "It is no coincidence that Christian tradition shows the spirits of the blessed as they sing in chorus, captivated and enraptured by the beauty of God. But true art, like prayer, is not foreign to everyday reality, rather it calls us to 'irrigate' that reality, to make it sprout that it may bring forth fruits of goodness and peace.
Music, in fact, has a far greater value because it "reminds us furthermore of the value and the universal importance of artistic heritage,” the Pope said. He also mentioned that it is of particular value to the young, who can draw "new inspiration" from such heritage "in order to build a world founded on justice and solidarity, putting the multiform expressions of world culture to good account at the service of mankind".
Benedict XVI mentioned the importance that "educating people to recognize true beauty has for the formation of the young", and he explained how art "contributes to refining their souls and leads towards the construction of a society open to the ideals of the spirit.
"Italy, with is exceptional artistic heritage, can, in this regard, play an important role in the world", he concluded. "The quantity and quality of monuments and works of art the country possesses effectively make it a universal 'messenger' of all the values which art, at one and the same time, expresses and promotes. In the same way, the festive nature of song and music are a constant invitation to believers and to men and women of good will to commit themselves to giving humanity a future rich in hope".
Not always.
GOOD music infuses hope into the human soul, perhaps.
That has never worked on me.
As an aside, you can see Msgr. Ratzinger slightly to the left in the above photo. Following the death of JPII, discussion around the world was focused on which cardinals were 'papabile'. A German journalist approached Msgr. Ratzinger and asked if he tought his brother would make a good pope. He said "No. He's too bookish (or words to that effect)" Famous last words.
nice.
Cool, the Pope approves of Iron Maiden!
Music, he said, has a spiritual value because it can “infuse hope into the human soul.”
Exactly why the islamics seek to ban it. They infuse a culture of death into their souls.
Our Pope is an awesome Pope.
I got box seats to see Iron Maiden in June. Can’t wait. I should email the pope and see if he wants to go.
What venue?
My exact first thoughts.
Perfect things can be abused.
Yes, and they often are abused. Which is why a blanket statement like, “Music infuses hope into the human soul” isn’t accurate without clarification. There is far too much “abused” music out there that saps and erodes hope.
well, see, when you're a Catholic, you're expected to think.
He means, "where's the show."
Venue. "Lovey, have the sectretary tell the man the venue for that Iron Maiden performance coming up. I believe it's at the opera house."
feeling goofy...
Heavy metal acts play at 'venues'? Who knew?
But at the Mass at Yankee Stadium, we treated him to “Salsa2” from the Casio Pocketone series.
May be the Holy Father does not consider it music.
You are correct and the Holy Father said much more on this topic. You can read the full text of his address here. And when you have finished, please post a synopsis in English, for all of us to read on this thread. Thank you!
different-page alert.
I love that little guy! He loves quiche, btw.
Too funny - a fusion of two life experiences that exemplifiy my experience as a Catholic in Germany in one thread! I will share how Msgr. Georg Ratzinger (brother of the pope) and Whoopi Goldberg were part of my sacramental life in Bavaria at opposite ends of the spectrum...
When we arrived in Bavaria to live, we tried to go to Mass at the local parish once a month, and we attended at the US military chapel the rest of the time. We were at one Saturday vigil Mass and the annnouncements and program in German informed us that the pairsh choir was extremely excited to share some African American spirituals with us during Mass. As God would have it, we had misguidedly purchased the soundtrack from Sister Act long ago and were sort of shocked when the entrance hymn was a selection from Whoopi’s version of sacred music. We sort of laughed a bit, thinking it was a coincidence. But was Mass progressed, ALL the music was from the soundtrack of Sister Act.
And the German country choir, with its pipe organ and strict German style, was so proud of itself - thinking it had mastered real African American sacred music! I was sort of flabbergasted when they did the full out version of Salve Regina - with the campy parts and the sock-hop crescendo. They mimicked every syllable and bar of the soundtrack.
It was hard to consider it a sacred experience, but we simply chalked it up to God having a heck of a sense of humor. NOt only did He bring our family to that Mass, but He had seen to it that we were familiar with the music - how odd that He would bring us across the world to share this joke with us in a church that had served the parish for 500 years - St. Andreas...
But we learned a lesson that day - that being Catholic is special regardless - that the Mass is the Mass no matter how distracting the well-intentioned mis-guided musicians are - and that multiculturalism for its own sake is goofy.
The funniest thing is that the Germans definitely noticed that we were Americans and probably thought that we had attended just so we could enjoy their special presentation of American music....
That was a few years before we became acquainted with Monsignor Georg Ratzinger - former choirmaster of the sparrows of Regensburg Cathedral, a boys choir to rival Vienna’s, and the pope’s charming older brother.
He concelebrated Mass at our military chapel - by request. And afterwards he had lunch in our home. It was a real delight to talk to him about his years as a priest and to thank him for sacrificing his brother for the good of the Church. We had a beautiful CD playing of a latin Mass recenty written by an American composer, and he heard it playing and loved it and then asked if it was our children singing! (Fat chance, that). Another musical encounter in Bavaria, but this one so much different.
I had to share - hope you enjoyed it.
Iron Maiden is better than the Ringling Brothers show.
great story, thanks !
(Did you even gently hint to the choir that they were slightly barking up the wrong tree? I guess you really couldn't without hurting their feelings!)
Thank you Mr. Pope. I never knew how music could affect me until you finally explained it to me.
All you do is troll and bait, I see.
Any reason? Do you need help? Are you lonely? Frustrated?
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Great stuff! Agree there is something more mysterious and special in this world than what could come from human minds. Do the right thing and let God handle the details.
The music of Western civ started out as worship, and was that until the time of Descartes/ when folks started thinking they didn’t need God. The (’not always’) music you are referring to — this is happening in all the arts, as people’s art reflects THEMSELVES (the created) and not God (the Creator).
I celebrate this good Pope’s focus on the great music of our Western heritage; may he light the fires of a return to the real reason for music.
This reminds me of one of the few Rick Warren points I agree with. There is no unGodly music.....only unGodly lyrics.
Not lonley anymore since you arrived. wink wink. :-)
Was this encounter after April 19, 2005?
Yes, it was.
This one, too.
I replied to person who MADE IT PERSONAL - and then I responded to him.
He is a troll - as one can see after a cursory look at his posting history. He posts snarling one-liners and nothing else.
And I get a warning?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.