Spiritual Reflections at, TX US - PERCEIVING THE SPLENDOUR OF FAITH THROUGH MUSIC

PERCEIVING THE SPLENDOUR OF FAITH THROUGH MUSIC
 
VATICAN CITY, 5 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning in Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father received a group of pilgrims from Regensburg, Germany.
 
  In brief remarks to them, the Pope recalled the "marvellous day" in September 2006 when he blessed the new organ - the "Benedikt-Orgel" - in the "Alte Kapelle" of Regensburg, of which his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, was once director.
 
  "I have an indelible memory", said the Holy Father, "of how - in the harmony of that wonderful organ, of the choir conducted by Mr Kohlhaufel, and the luminous beauty of the church - we experienced the joy that comes from God. Not just the 'spark of the Gods' of which Schiller speaks, but truly the flame of the Holy Spirit which brought us to feel in our innermost being what we also know from the Gospel of St. John: that He Himself is joy. And this joy was communicated to us".
 
  Benedict XVI spoke of his contentment "that this organ continues to play and so helps people to perceive something of the splendour of our faith; a splendour ignited by the Holy Spirit Himself. Thus the organ has an evangelising role, in its own way it announces the Gospel".
AC/ORGAN/REGENSBURG PILGRIMS                                     VIS 080707 (210)

MUSIC BRINGS PEOPLE INTO HARMONY WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Benedict XVI attended a concert held in the internal courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo. The event was organized in his honor by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra for celebrations marking the 1000th anniversary of the archdiocese of Bamberg, Germany. In remarks made at the end of the concert, the Pope indicated that music "has the power to lead us back ... to the Creator of all harmony, creating a resonance within us which is like being in tune with the beauty and truth of God, with the reality which no human knowledge or philosophy can ever express." After thanking the conductor and the members of orchestra, as well as the organizers and promoters of the event, the Holy Father described the concert as "a gift which I interpret as being the sign of a special bond of affection between the archdiocese of Bamberg and Peter's Successor." "May your jubilee pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles and to Peter's current Successor," the Holy Father concluded, "strengthen your faith and joy in God, that you may become His witnesses in daily life." AC/BAMBERG CONCERT/...VIS 070905 (210)

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