At mass this morning our rector, Canon Bell was off to Italy leading a pilgrimage to Florence and the institutes ordination of new priests and deacons. In his place this morning Canon Talarico the Provincial supervisor had mass. I affectionately call him the “boss canon”. His sermon this morning touched on how to avoid our ever deteriorating and putrid secular world. Naturally he mentioned prayer and emphasized the virtues striving to practice a new virtue each month. He also mentioned listen to good music.
My Sundays involve low mass, then home to bacon eggs and English muffins and of course a second pot of coffee. Then some work on the tridentine website. After that, on the deck with a cigar, a couple of home brew brown ales (you didn’t think I was ONLY going to have one?) and a read of this weeks Epoch times newspaper.
I am a product of the 60s and 70s. In college I was heavily into the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, lead Zeppelin and the like. To be honest I can not get past any more than 20 seconds of that genre before I have to turn it off. Its now become grating noise. The only stuff of that nature I listen to anymore is Fiona Apple, Eddie Brikell and the gratefull dead. Actual well written music but still some depressing flaws. Fiona is actually depressing when you listen to the lyrics. Almost all songs involve some horrible relationship, Gratefull dead is good too but too much self centered do you own thing type of stuff, Eddie is good too but again the do your own thing type of stuff.
So today on Canon Talarico suggestion I listened to GOOD music, Handel and Mozart. That along with my Rocky Patel cigar and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel home brewed brown ale (hey if the tridentine brewery boys can name their brews from saints I can name mine after my favorite saint) was a strange awakening. I could actually feel Gods presence all around me. His creations, hard to hold a grudge against anyone when you have this atmosphere. So Canon thank you for giving me this useful tool.
Classical music has always played a role in my grown as a human being. In college and high school I was an apostate Catholic. Never saw the inside of a church for 8 years, I think the horrible music I listened to was a major contributor there. Instead of mass I was usually nursing a hang over from Saturday night beer drinking and pool shooting at the college watering hole, the wharf. I was pro choice and felt there was no need for confession just going directly to God. Yes, yes, I know, I know so stupid, so very stupid. Then parents weekend the Benedictine monks got permission from the local bishop to have a solemn high mass that Sunday. 3 priests, an army of altar boys, incense, and the beautiful music of Schubert mass in C I believe it was or was it B. I got goose bumps and immediately knew that is where I should be. Unfortunately not being the brightest bulb in the chandelier I put off my “rebirth” till I got out of college.
At that point I went to seek out the true faith and thanks to the ICKSP and the SSPX too I think I found it again. First an independent priest, old Father Quinn in the shrine of Pius V, then the SSPX in Oak Park, then finally the Institute in Rockford. I think Classical music played an important part in all that.
I am realizing music wakens the soul and depending on what you listen to it can either release angelic peace, or a demonic torment. After experiencing both I think I will stick with Canon’s suggestion. It leads for a much more peaceful and fufilling life.