Friday, April 18, 2008. A large crowd, including a group of 150 Austrians and a delegation of German Franciscans, participated in the blessing of the new Great Organ in the Franciscan Convent of Saint Saviour’s in the Old City of Jerusalem. The organ may be new, but the generosity of Austrian Christians is well-established. This is actually the third instrument in the Holy Land, after the Holy Sepulcher and Bethlehem, to be financed by their generosity and thanks to the efforts of Brother Stanislaus Bertagnolli, Holy Land Commissioner in Austria. It is also the fourth organ in the Custody from the Rieger organ makers. (The fourth is in Aleppo.)
In his presentation of the instrument (see PDF), Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, told of the audacity tinged with timidity with which the Custody, whose organ dated from the 1880s and could sustain no further repairs, made another appeal to Brother Stanislaus. The latter responded positively and without delay. Radiantly joyful following the conclusion of the inauguration and the day’s concert, Brother Stanislaus wanted only to say, "It is the Lord who allowed it all. I myself am just another instrument in his hands."
The blessing began with a welcome and warm expressions of thanks by Brother Pierbattista. He also underlined that the organ is not just another instrument to embellish services, but is itself liturgy. The celebration was honored by the presence of Mr. Wendelin Eberle, the maker of the instrument; Msgr. H. G. Franz Lackner, a Franciscan and Auxiliary Bishop of Graz-Seckaub, presided: "This is doubly moving for me, as an Austrian bishop and as a Franciscan who discovered my vocation in the Holy Land when I was a UN soldier on Cyprus." In his message for the blessing, he cited composer Olivier Messiaen, who said that the highest mission (of the musician) was to testify to "the theological truths of the Catholic faith", referring to Saint Thomas Aquinas’ idea that music should "transport us to God for lack of truth, until He himself dazzles us with truth to excess".
To be dazzled, it was only necessary to wait for the concert by Pierluigi Comparin, who provided the organ accompaniment for the Magnificat choir of the Custody of the Holy Land. A choir that, during the inaugural concert series, never failed to surprise the audience with its progress and which, under the direction of Hania Souda Sabbara, did exceptional work in preparing the performances, even while it also had to sing at the Holy Week ceremonies.While Father Armando Pierucci tried to take a back seat to the organ of which he is tenured player, everyone recognized that without him and the passion that motivates him, none of this would have taken place. Holy Land residents who have not yet heard this king of instruments at Saint Saviour’s take note: The last in the series of inaugural concerts will take place on April 27th at 7:00pm.
If you can’t make it, rest assured that the organ will accompany the Sunday liturgy at Saint Saviour’s, but the Magnificat Institute will not miss organizing new concerts or sponsoring concerts as it is asked. According to Father Armando, "its vocation is liturgical, but also scholastic and social."
It is also to delight us… and it did.
MAB
See also the articles:
First concert for the inauguration of the new Organ of Saint Saviour’s
Second concert for the inauguration of the new Organ of Saint Saviour’s
Magnificat Institute
In his presentation of the instrument (see PDF), Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land, told of the audacity tinged with timidity with which the Custody, whose organ dated from the 1880s and could sustain no further repairs, made another appeal to Brother Stanislaus. The latter responded positively and without delay. Radiantly joyful following the conclusion of the inauguration and the day’s concert, Brother Stanislaus wanted only to say, "It is the Lord who allowed it all. I myself am just another instrument in his hands."
The blessing began with a welcome and warm expressions of thanks by Brother Pierbattista. He also underlined that the organ is not just another instrument to embellish services, but is itself liturgy. The celebration was honored by the presence of Mr. Wendelin Eberle, the maker of the instrument; Msgr. H. G. Franz Lackner, a Franciscan and Auxiliary Bishop of Graz-Seckaub, presided: "This is doubly moving for me, as an Austrian bishop and as a Franciscan who discovered my vocation in the Holy Land when I was a UN soldier on Cyprus." In his message for the blessing, he cited composer Olivier Messiaen, who said that the highest mission (of the musician) was to testify to "the theological truths of the Catholic faith", referring to Saint Thomas Aquinas’ idea that music should "transport us to God for lack of truth, until He himself dazzles us with truth to excess".
To be dazzled, it was only necessary to wait for the concert by Pierluigi Comparin, who provided the organ accompaniment for the Magnificat choir of the Custody of the Holy Land. A choir that, during the inaugural concert series, never failed to surprise the audience with its progress and which, under the direction of Hania Souda Sabbara, did exceptional work in preparing the performances, even while it also had to sing at the Holy Week ceremonies.While Father Armando Pierucci tried to take a back seat to the organ of which he is tenured player, everyone recognized that without him and the passion that motivates him, none of this would have taken place. Holy Land residents who have not yet heard this king of instruments at Saint Saviour’s take note: The last in the series of inaugural concerts will take place on April 27th at 7:00pm.
If you can’t make it, rest assured that the organ will accompany the Sunday liturgy at Saint Saviour’s, but the Magnificat Institute will not miss organizing new concerts or sponsoring concerts as it is asked. According to Father Armando, "its vocation is liturgical, but also scholastic and social."
It is also to delight us… and it did.
MAB
See also the articles:
First concert for the inauguration of the new Organ of Saint Saviour’s
Second concert for the inauguration of the new Organ of Saint Saviour’s
Magnificat Institute