Vatican Radio REPORT “Openness
to Divine claritas, the radiant beauty and life force of the Creator”,
helps us to “grow beyond ourselves”. It is “the fundamental attitude that fills
man and gives him peace” said Pope Benedict Saturday evening, reflecting on the
feast of St Clare in his words of thanks to an ensemble of musicians who had
preformed a special concert in his honor at Castel Gandolfo.The chamber concert was organized and preformed by world famous German cellist Thomas Beckmann, founder of “Together against the cold”, an association of musicians who devolve the proceeds of special concerts to local charities. The artist was accompanied on the piano by his wife Kayoko Matsushita, Yuko Kasahara and by the Regensburg vocal assemble Cantico, directed by Edeltraud Appl.
Below A Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Father’s remarks:
Reverend brethren,
dear friends!
At the end of this beautiful vocal and instrumental music, I can only say to the musicians a heartfelt "Vergelt's Gott" [May the Lord reward you]. With this evening’s program you have given us an idea of the multiplicity of musical creativity and breadth of harmony. Music is not a succession of tones, it retains a rhythm and at the same time, it is a cohesion and contemporary sound of cords, it has its own structure and its own depth. We were able to wonderfully enjoy all of this, not only in the multi-voice choir, expressively rendered by the vocal group Cantico directed by Ms. Edeltraut Appl, but also in the wonderful instrumental pieces that we heard in the execution of Mr. Thomas Beckmann, his wife, Kayoko and Mr. Kasahara. We have all listened enraptured- you will have noticed - the warm tone and great richness of the cello. Music is an expression of the spiritual, an of an inner place within the person, created for all that is true, good and beautiful. It is no coincidence that music often accompanies our prayers. It echoes our senses and our emotions when we meet God in prayer
Today we observe the liturgical memory of St. Clare. In a hymn to the Saint one reads: "From the transparency of God you have received the light. You gave Him space, He grew in you / and it flowed into the world, enlightening our hearts. "
This is the fundamental attitude that fills man and gives him peace: openness to Divine claritas, the radiant beauty and life force of the Creator, that help us grow beyond ourselves. Today we have encountered this claritas in a wonderful way and it has enlightened us. So it is only consequential that artists should strive for good and help and support those in need, starting from their profound experience of beauty. They convey the good they have received as a gift. It flows into the world. And so Man grows, he becomes transparent and aware of the presence and action of his Creator. Surely, Mr. Beckmann and those with him who are engaged in charitable work "Together against the cold”, can confirm this for us. We have understood that this "Together against the cold" does not respond to an external purpose, but comes from deep within, from this music that goes beyond the cold that is within us and opens our hearts. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all success in your musical commitment for many years to come, together with God’s abundant blessings for your commitment to charity. To all the performers, my greatest thanks for this beautiful evening. We place everything under God's blessing! I impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing:
Thank you so much! Good night.
shared from RADIO VATICANA
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