Music an Aural Window to the Soul
We all listen to music. It is a companion that goes along with our social life. For me, it accompanied me in my journey to the priesthood. Listening to music has become an important feature in my life and for my spirituality.
Like poetry, it opens up the imagination. The whole panorama of human emotion and experience is available to us through music.
There are many words devoted in praise of different genres of music. There are learned works providing musical scholarship. In an increasingly speedy world, however, the largest part of music is still, loud and fast. I hope to be a messenger to broaden some musical horizons, to place music within some of its personal, historical and social contexts, and to most of all link music to our longing for God.
In a world of journalistic and scientific facts, such exploration of things not readily prone to quantification seem out of place. The purpose however, is to share, what the French philosopher, Gabriel Marcel, referred to as "disponsibilite", a fundamental openness to what is to be revealed.
Music for me, has always been something magic. It just takes off and goes somewhere and invites you along for the ride. It often shows up at important times. These days, I hear the Ave Maria sung at many weddings.
I think that's the place to start on this journey in and around music. What has been the sound track for the most memorable, poignant or jubilant moments in your life?
From my vantage point music puts us in touch with that pull that takes us outside of ourselves. And I think it can become a window on the soul that animates us in our quest . . . a quest that opens us more and more.
In my Christian life it helps me to say, "Yes," to whatever lies ahead. Music is breath and heartbeat, word and song and sigh and hope and desire and acceptance. It is so very much, us.
Like poetry, it opens up the imagination. The whole panorama of human emotion and experience is available to us through music.
There are many words devoted in praise of different genres of music. There are learned works providing musical scholarship. In an increasingly speedy world, however, the largest part of music is still, loud and fast. I hope to be a messenger to broaden some musical horizons, to place music within some of its personal, historical and social contexts, and to most of all link music to our longing for God.
In a world of journalistic and scientific facts, such exploration of things not readily prone to quantification seem out of place. The purpose however, is to share, what the French philosopher, Gabriel Marcel, referred to as "disponsibilite", a fundamental openness to what is to be revealed.
Music for me, has always been something magic. It just takes off and goes somewhere and invites you along for the ride. It often shows up at important times. These days, I hear the Ave Maria sung at many weddings.
I think that's the place to start on this journey in and around music. What has been the sound track for the most memorable, poignant or jubilant moments in your life?
From my vantage point music puts us in touch with that pull that takes us outside of ourselves. And I think it can become a window on the soul that animates us in our quest . . . a quest that opens us more and more.
In my Christian life it helps me to say, "Yes," to whatever lies ahead. Music is breath and heartbeat, word and song and sigh and hope and desire and acceptance. It is so very much, us.
