Throughout the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, many converts were first attracted by its beauty. Originally, before the Church was even legal, let alone possessed any temporal and earthly power, the Church's teaching on the dignity of man in the eyes of God led to a life of simple and constant love in Christian communities. Men and women saw the way Christians lived and remarked, "Look how these Christians love one another". This love for God, for humanity, and for God's creation – a creation which is intrinsically good – was, and is, the most convincing form of evangelization the world has ever seen.
I had always appreciated the power of chant. I was raised in a devoutly Hindu family; chants - bhajans - served as invaluable transporters to transcendence. In particular, I was instructed in the Vishnu Sahasranama ("The Thousand Names of Vishnu") in middle school and the beautiful rhyme, rhythm, and radiance of the poetry burned in me a love for the decelerating and concentrating power of devotional chant. I could always find refuge in the Sahasranama: as poetry, my mind, oriented to the beautiful by God the Father, easily found its way to it. Indeed, I see the Vishnu Sahasranama as one of the best expressions of divinity humanity has ever stumbled upon - or, perhaps, given.
Given that natural beauty of chant, Gregorian chant takes it a step further: it points always to a supernatural reality, one which comprises the alpha (start) and omega (end) of the world – Christ Jesus, the eternal Word of God made flesh.
As the Church progressed through history – nay, as the Church progressed history – opportunities to develop this radical message of love presented themselves. Christian art, sculpture, poetry, literature, music, and architecture created a tapestry oriented to God, the source of Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Love.
I must confess, and do so only too quickly and with only too much enthusiasm, that the beauty of the Church is what captured my soul. Yes, beauty can overpower even the soul of an atheist who bought his ticket for the final destination from atheism: nihilism. "Only the lover sings"; for many in our post-modern, post-meaning, post-moral culture today, only beauty will save.
As an example, consider Gregorian chant. When I was first becoming intrigued by the faith, I stumbled across the following compilation of various Gregorian chants on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-hrBhA4XkM.
As an example, consider Gregorian chant. When I was first becoming intrigued by the faith, I stumbled across the following compilation of various Gregorian chants on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-hrBhA4XkM.
I had always appreciated the power of chant. I was raised in a devoutly Hindu family; chants - bhajans - served as invaluable transporters to transcendence. In particular, I was instructed in the Vishnu Sahasranama ("The Thousand Names of Vishnu") in middle school and the beautiful rhyme, rhythm, and radiance of the poetry burned in me a love for the decelerating and concentrating power of devotional chant. I could always find refuge in the Sahasranama: as poetry, my mind, oriented to the beautiful by God the Father, easily found its way to it. Indeed, I see the Vishnu Sahasranama as one of the best expressions of divinity humanity has ever stumbled upon - or, perhaps, given.
Given that natural beauty of chant, Gregorian chant takes it a step further: it points always to a supernatural reality, one which comprises the alpha (start) and omega (end) of the world – Christ Jesus, the eternal Word of God made flesh.
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