When the world seems far beyond me, And I have no place to go, When my life seems cold and empty, And I feel I’m all alone, Then a song that I remember Helps to ease my troubled mind...
There are so many
things that's happening around the world that it's almost impossible to keep
up. Some are simply caught up in the immediate things like work or business or
pleasure while some are busy supposedly with things that matter to us all, like
the environment, good governance, educational opportunities, caring for the
family and household and so on. So many things call for our attention these
days that we might be forgetting the one important person who made all these
things possible for us.
This world seems to
forget him and I think it's right that we should remember just how blessed we
are with all the things that we need to make this world a better place. The
video I'm presenting is a compilation of pictures of this one awesome man who
made a huge impact in the lives of humanity. I remember someone telling me that
love songs can actually be addressed or dedicated to God, whether as man loving
him or God loving us. This song is not a song I sang with the choir, but it has been one of my favorite
love songs--Because You Loved Me. I like this song because it speaks of someone
selfless and doing everything for the sake of his beloved one. Well, I could
only think of one person who is like that for all times--Jesus Christ.
I hope you'd
understand the progression of the pictures. It may not be completely in sync
with the song, but it is my hope that the message will get across. Let us
indeed thank God for such an incredible gift to humanity!
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s
life for one’s friends.
(John 15:12-13)
The passage above
comes from today's Gospel in which the central theme of the readings is about
God's Love. As Christians, we are reminded that this is the one that should
characterize our actions--that we do everything out of love and our model for
this love is none other than Jesus Christ.
We have many songs
in Musica Sacra that pertain to God's love and one of them is Ecce Quam Bonum.
This song speaks about Christian brotherhood as expressed in Psalm 132. It
reminds us that this unity that we have as Christians centered on the love that
Jesus has given to us through the Holy Eucharist. We united ourselves in this
sacrifice of Christ in order to share in the life and be granted the grace from
the Father in heaven in order to imitate his love that Christ has shown us. And
this love is to "lay down one's life for one's friends"--it is not
forced, but offered, not conditional, but pure giving in the spirit of
generosity. Here is the Latin lyrics and it's English equivalent from Psalm
132. (source: Breviary) The rendition sang by Novo Concertante Manila is that composed by Hans Leo
Hassler.
Ecce quam bonum,
et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum.
2 Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod
descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron.
3 Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti
ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion.
4 Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus
benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum.
Behold, how good
and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity.
2 It is like the precious oil upon
the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron.
3 That went down to the skirts of his
clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion.
4 For there the Lord hath
commanded blessing, * and life for evermore.
It's truly difficult
to love one's neighbor let alone to the point of laying down your life for
another. But it is a challenge to all of us if we really want to love.
Sometimes I hesitate to share how I feel if it means I'll end up hurting the
other person. And because it is also something that hurts me, I tend to keep
it. What's dangerous about it is that whatever it is that you're hiding, might eat you up or make you isolated from people who could show love to you. Hence, in cases like
these, it is also good to resort to prayer. If there's anybody who'd always be
willing to listento our cares and
sufferings, that would be Jesus Christ. Because he is the one who loved us
first before he even tried to save us.
It's difficult to lose a loved one--that's partly the reason why I haven't written anything on this blog. I know that we (the family) have done everything good for my dad. There was one detail there I wasn't happy about and it concerns the subject (the inspiration) for this blog. I lost that inspiration and it took a while before I thought about what to write in this blog.
Since my dad passed away three weeks ago, the family and I were too busy with things to be done for my dad's passage to the afterlife--the family, both here in Manila and Bacolod, contributed and shared with us (dad's immediate family) their condolences, plus friends of dad and the family. I couldn't thank them enough!
Our time to grieve happen to coincide with the Season of Lent. I came to recall a song that immortalized Mary's sorrow at the death of her dearly beloved son Jesus Christ--Stabat Mater. Who else could perfectly understand the pain of loss and suffering than that of our dear Blessed Mother Mary? This is a song that I see fitting for this occasion. And also, this for you, dad! Farewell!
From the family mausoleum in Isabela, Negros Occidental
STABAT MATER English Translation
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa 1. At the cross her station keeping,
Iuxta crucem lacrimosa stood the mournful mother weeping,
Dum pendebat Filius close to Jesus to the last
2. Cuius animam gementem 2. Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
Contristatam et dolentem all his bitter anguish bearing,
Pertransivit gladius now at length the sword had passed.
3. O quam tristis et afflicta 3. Oh how sad and sore distressed
Fuit illa benedicta was that mother highly blessed,
Mater unigeniti! of the sole-begotten One!
4. Quae moerebat et dolebat, 4. Christ above in torment hangs;
Pia Mater, dum videbat she beneath beholds the pangs
Nati poenas incliti of her dying glorious Son.
5. Quis est homo qui non fleret, 5. Is there one who would not weep,
Matrem Christi si videret whelmed in miseries so deep
In tanto supplicio? Christ's dear Mother to behold?
6. Quis non posset contristari, 6. Can the human heart refrain
Christi Matrem contemplari from partaking in her pain,
Dolentem cum Filio? in that Mother's pain untold?
7. Pro peccatis suae gentis 7. For the sins of His own nation
Vidit Iesum in tormentis, saw Him hang in desolation,
Et flagellis subditum. all with bloody scourges rent.
8. Vidit suum dulcem natum 8. Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
Moriendo desolatum she beheld her tender child,
Dum emisit spiritum till His Spirit forth he sent.
9. Eia Mater, fons amoris 9. O, thou Mother, fount of love,
Me sentire vim doloris touch my spirit from above,
Fac, ut tecum lugeam make my heart with thine accord.
10. Fac, ut ardeat cor meum 10. Make me feel as thou has felt;
In amando Christum Deum make my soul to glow and melt
Ut sibi complaceam with the love of Christ our Lord.
11. Sancta Mater, istud agas, 11. Holy Mother, pierce me through;
Crucifixi fige plagas in my heart each wound renew
Cordi meo valide. of my Saviour crucified.
12. Tui nati vulnerati, 12. Let met share with thee his pain,
Tam dignati pro me pati, who for all my sins was slain,
Poenas mecum divide. who for me in torments died.
13. Fac me tecum, pie, flere, 13. Let me mingle tears with thee,
Crucifixo condolere, mourning Him Who mourned for me,
Donec ego vixero. all the days that I may live.
14. Iuxta crucem tecum stare, 14. By the cross with thee to stay,
Et me tibi sociare there with thee to weep and pray,
In planctu desidero this I ask of thee to give.
15. Virgo virginum praeclara, 15. Virgin, of all virgins blest,
Mihi iam non sis amara O refuse not my request:
Fac me tecum plangere let me in thy weeping share
16. Fac, ut portem Christi mortem 16. Let me, to my latest breath,
Passionis fac consortem, in my body bear the death
Et plagas recolere. of that dying Son of thine.
17. Fac me plagis vulnerari, 17. Wounded with his every wound,
Fac me cruce inebriari, steep my soul till it hath swooned
Et cruore Filii in His very blood away.
18. Flammis ne urar succensus 18. Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Per Te, Virgo, sim defensus lest in flames I burn and die,
In die iudicii in that awful judgment day.
19. Christe, cum sit hinc exire, 19. Christ, when thou shalt call me hence,
Da per Matrem me venire be Thy mother my defense,
Ad palmam victoriae be Thy cross my victory.
20. Quando corpus morietur, 20. While my body here decays,
Fac, ut animae donetur may my soul Thy goodness praise,
Paradisi gloria. Amen safe in Paradise with Thee. Amen.
It is only now that I've had the time to write a blog. I guess when I do a week's training, I realize that I haven't got the time to write and organize my blog. Last week was Valentine's week--a week dedicated to love and friendship. So how have I been during that week?
I admit that I am an impatient person. I even get impatient with myself--not finding the file I'm looking for in my computer at one time led me to a childish tantrum. At that time, I was alone in the room. As my trainees came in, they did see the distress in my face, but the tantrum was over by then. If I get impatient with myself, so much more with other people.
Last Friday, I had a sinking feeling of sadness. Yes, I pray to the Lord everyday. But I'm saddened by the fact that how I am in prayer is not how I am in practice. I may be "holier than thou" in front of the Lord in a chapel or church. But where is the love when I'm out there facing different types of people and being impatient when they do something that's not to my liking? I was saddened by the fact that I am angry at some people and I am impatient with others. Realizing that I myself am imperfect and no better than any human being, why am I being so impatient with others? Have I lost the love of Christ?
I struggle with my impatience everyday. It's more of a spiritual struggle and times like these call for prayers--not only my own--of other people, especially those who are close to me. Today, I reflect on the importance of praying for other people. I remember being told that praying for others is actually quite powerful. The inspiration for this song came from the Gospel according to St. Matthew 18: 19-20. I know I couldn't face my struggles alone. With God--and others praying for me and I for them--every struggle can be overcome.
ESTO LES DIGO
Esto les digo, 'This I say to you, si dos de ustedes se ponen, if two of you are put, se ponen de acuerdo aquí en, are put in accord here in, en la tierra para pedir, in the earth to ask, pedir algo en oración, to ask anything in prayer, mi padre que está en el cielo, my Father which is in heaven, se lo dará. will give it to you. Porque donde dos o tres se reúnen en mi nombre, Because where two or three are gathered in my name, allí estoy yo, there am I, en medio de ellos. in the midst of them.'
It's true that we tend to listen to songs that we can relate to. We're not interested on whether the C note is the one that should be sung, not the G note or that one's pitch is somewhere near the middle C. During the Renaissance period, the Madrigal style of singing not just centered on the notes but also on the text that goes with the notes. They call it word painting.
The idea behind word painting is that composers choose the words or the text of a song that would express the emotion or the story that they want the song to convey. For example, if you'd like to portray the image of a sunrise, you'd probably have notes that tend to rise up and the text that is used (like "sun rises") would be set into song that portrays the rising of the sun.
Songs that express emotion are quite appealing--joy, despair, hope, peace, love, justice, gratitude, and so many others. But the strong emotions are the ones that draw much attention. Such compositions that express a wide range of emotions also tend to be creative, diverse, and filled with various lines of poetry and music that blend together towards a genius work of art. One such composer is known to have created a compilation of madrigals that expresses various types of emotions--Carlo Gesualdo.
Carlo Gesualdo's tragic love story is a real story that we often see dramatized in some Shakespearean play or modern day telenovelas. Upon catching his unfaithful wife having relations with another man, all hell breaks loose and Gesualdo murders both his wife and her lover there on the bed where they're making out. Imagine the range of emotions involved in this tragic tale--unrequited love, furious anger, green-eyed jealousy, hurt pride, emotional anguish--the list of extreme heart-felt emotions is endless. Gesualdo decides to tell all and his outlet is the madrigal.
I shall feature one of these madrigals entitled "Dolcissima Mia Vita." Here I present the Italian and English translated text. The text presents a lover's heart that's all fired up with burning love. This love consumes his heart to the point that death is better than to not have loved the one desired. The counterpoints that happen in the line "Credete forse on'ardo..." portrays that fiery passion happening inside the lover's heart.
Dolcissima mia vita, Sweetest life,
a che tardate la bramata aita? why do you withhold the relief which I long for?
Credete forse ond' ardo, Perhaps you think that my burning desire will end,
sia per finir perche torcete il guardo? because you turn away whenever I see you?
Ahi, non fia mai che brama il mio desire Alas, this cannot be,
o d'amarti o morire. I must either love you or die.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life -- Berthold Auerbach
It rained quite hard today. To many, rain is associated with sadness like its a non-stop shedding of tears from heaven. To me, rain is a blessing, a cleansing and washing away of life's "everyday dust."
I'm not sure what to write in this blog save that I know what its subject is. I spoke with my financial adviser and I wish I could say that all was well. That conversation left me in a downer mood. It was ironic that that mood set in just when the rain has stopped. So what do we do when times are rough? When the unexpected mars our plans for the future? Then, I remember addressing a blog to one of my good friends. I shared a song and the first line goes "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary talks to me speaking words of wisdom: let it be."
Music truly has a way of answering our deepest thoughts and sought after dreams. Choral singing in particular has that cleansing and reflective effect upon me. Each song has its own way of catharsis. Each song has its own way to ease the soul.
Sometimes when you feel down, you'd need the comfort of someone who cares for you the most. And I find this beautiful trait in the Most Blessed Mother Mary--the Mother of Jesus Christ. She is a mother not only to Catholics, but to everyone. Yes, believe it or not, she can and is the mother of everyone who seeks for a mother in his/her life. Just think of what a perfect mother should be like: kind, tender, lovingly caressing and nurturing her children, understanding and concerned about their feelings, worries and wants in life; a constant shoulder to cry on, giving hope and encouragement for the young ones to continue to struggle amidst the trials and difficulties...oh I could go on and on and on. Anyone could seek this mother--if he/she wants to--in the Blessed Mother Mary.
You may or may not agree with me. But allow me to invite you to listen to one of the most popular hymns dedicated to our dear Blessed Mother. This prayer has been set into song for several generations and until now, composers continue to revisit and write new arrangements. Without further adieu, I present to you "Ave Maria" arranged by Ralph Hoffman and performed by Novo Concertante Manila. I invite you to bask in its highs and lows, its soft and loud moments...for it is in these moments in our life that our Mother's love can truly be felt if you wish to seek it.
Ave Maria Lyrics (Latin) English
Ave Maria Hail Mary
Gratia plena Full of grace
Dominus tecum The Lord is with you
Benedicta tu in mulieribus Blessed are you among women
Et benedictus fructus ventris And Blessed is the fruit of your womb
Tui, Jesus Jesus...
Sancta Maria Holy Mary
Mater Dei Mother of God
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus Pray for us sinners
Nunc et in hora mortis nostrae Now and at the hour of our death
Amen. Amen.
In one of the concerts, I remember a song being dedicated to a special guest. I likened this special guest to two wonderful people I met in 2011--Mel and Gene.
On February of 2011, I met Mel (not her real name) together with my new found friend Queenie (not her real name and subject of yesterday's blog). Like me, Mel loves to read books. I envy her in a way because she works for a publishing house and she has access to books of various genres. ;-) But more than just a book lover, she is a lover of people. Mel belongs to a special group whose purpose in the community is to pray for other people. She is active when it comes to outreach programs--taking orphans to an amusement park, soliciting and distributing medicines for the less fortunate ones in public hospitals, giving gifts to senior citizens, street children, and orphans to name a few during Christmas...and so much more!
Alongside Mel is another great person who serves with her in these outreach programs. Gene (not her real name) is the perfect antidote to a bad day. She always has good, positive, and joyous things to say and share. She's funny in her own way, especially when she sends you messages via cellphone that confuses you sometimes. :-) But she always attends to her friends with love and concern, asking about how their day went by, what makes them happy...in a word--she cares.
In a world that's filled with greed, cold hearted, and selfish people, it's comforting to meet many people out their who'd go out of their way to serve and be happy with what they do--like Mel and Gene. Here's to you Mel and Gene. This song is for you.
Paraiso (arranged by Fidel Calalang, Jr.)
Return to a land called paraiso
A place where a dying river ends
No birds dare fly over paraiso
No space allows them to endure
The smoke that screens the air
The grass that's never there
Refrain 1:
And if I could see a single bird
What a joy!
I try to write some words and create
A simple song to be heard by the rest of the
world
I live in a land called paraiso
In a house made of cardboard floors and walls
I learned to be free in paraiso
Free to claim anything I see
Matching rags for my clothes
Plastic bags for the cold
Refrain 2:
And if empty cans were all I have
What a joy!
I never fight to take someone else's coins
and live with fear like the rest of the boys
Chorus:
Paraiso, help me make a stand
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
That if I could see a single bird
What a joy!
This tired and hungry land could expect
Some truth and hope and respect
From the rest of the world
Repeat Refrain 2
Repeat Chorus
I was still part of Novo when this was sung. Unfortunately, the one who owns the camera is also a singer in this video. So the camera remained steady. :-D I hope you liked it though!
Allow me to introduce you to my friends Jenny and Queenie. Jenny (not her real name) is smart, inquisitive, reflective, and always curious. She likes asking questions that would really make you think--questions about justice for example. She is open to new ideas and it would be a good idea to let her speak her mind. When something is troubling her and she feels the need to express it, just let her be--she usually does have a point to make. If she has the time, she could write inspiring messages and send them via cellphone or Facebook--about what went on in her mind while waiting in traffic for example. Last but not the least, she is very generous with her time and energy. Meeting friends, doing her duties, participating in outreach and other social activities--she's all for it!
Queenie (not her real name) is also just as generous with her time and energy. But whereas Jenny exemplifies keenness of mind, Queenie is a person with a pure heart. She is sensitive to other people's feelings and she never fails to make you laugh. Her sense of humor is natural, heartfelt, and downright funny--she doesn't even need to try hard. She greets you with a smile and you couldn't help but feel lifted up. Tell her in a subtle way that you have a problem, she'll surely be the one to lend a hand or even a shoulder to cry on. She will definitely take time to hear what's on your mind and your heart. She won't be afraid to advise or to guide you if you ask her to.
Yes, these are my friends whom I've met only last year. But they've been such a blessing to me that I fondly call them "Mind and Heart"--only in this blog anyway! In line with offering my fave choral pieces, I'd like to dedicate this song to my friends Jenny and Queenie. I believe this song captures some aspects of their character which I've roughly outlined here. Here's to Jenny and Queenie and I hope you like this song.
LET IT BE (by the Beatles, sang by the Philippine Madrigal Singers)
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the night is cloudy There is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
This song is about Paul McCartney's mom--which happens to be named Mary and a devout Roman Catholic. I guess this is a perfect song to all women--not just mothers. After all, at one point many women have become "mothers" to a lot of people by sharing their intelligence and love for the other people's benefit. :-)
