Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “Soloists playing together demands of the individual not only commitment of all one’s technical and musical ability to execute one’s own part, but at the same time the ability to listen carefully to the others. Only then we have a really great performance. This is a fitting image for us in the Church as we strive to be "instruments" to communicate to men and women the thought of the greatest "Composer", whose work is the harmony of the universe.” With these words Pope Benedict XVI addressed the four musicians of the Philharmonic Quartet Berlin who played at the concert in his honour offered by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr Horst Köhler, in the afternoon of 18 November in the Vatican in the Sala Clementina.
“The compositions we have just heard helped us to meditate on the complexity of life and small daily events - the Holy Father said -. Each day is interwoven with joys and sorrow, hope and disappointment, routine and surprises, which alternate in a lively manner stirring in our heart fundamental questions with regard to "from where", and "where to" and the true meaning of life. Music, which expresses all these perceptions of the heart, offers the audience at a time such as this an opportunity to view as in a mirror the events of personal and universal history. However it offers even more: with its sounds it carries us into another world putting harmony in our heart. In this moment of peace we are able to see, as if from a high mount, the mysterious realities which man strives to decipher and which the light of the faith helps us to better understand. In fact we can imagine the history of the world as a marvellous symphony composed by God and whose execution he himself conducts like a skilful maestro. Although to us at times the score may appear difficult and complex, He knows it from the first note to the last. We are not called to take up the conductor’s baton, and even less to change the melody to suit our own taste. Instead we are called, each in his or her own place and with his or her abilities, to collaborate with the great Maestro to perform His wonderful masterpiece. As we perform it we will gradually understand the magnificent design of the divine score”.
Pope Benedict XVI called attention to the fact that music can lead to prayer: “it invites us to lift our mind to God to find in Him the reasons for our hope and the strength to face the difficulties of life. Faithful to his commandments and with respect for his plan for salvation, together we can build a world in which there resounds the consoling melody of a transcendent symphony of love. Indeed, the Holy Spirit himself will render us instruments in harmony and responsible collaborators in a wonderful performance which expresses through the centuries the plan for universal salvation”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2006, righe 34, parole 516)
