I don’t really know why I’m so enamored with what Andrea Bocelli, the Bishop of Milan, and the mayor or Milan did last Sunday? I wasn’t expecting anything too extraordinary, maybe some inspiring music and beautiful images?
But my spirit was very expectant! Something that I can’t really verbalize well, but I felt I just had to see it, and see it live if we could get it at the cabin. There was something special, historical, and spiritual in store for those with interest and with eyes that see. Thats what I was feeling!
I’m still trying to see into what happened spiritually in those few minutes.
Self disclosure. Even though I have a high view of Catholicism and church history (which was Catholicism for over a thousand years), and appreciate other cultures — certainly Roman and Italian for art, music, architecture, and many of the Renaissance’s advances and masters — some insidious pride, somewhat typical of Americans (whence the common label “Ugly American” is attached with good reason when this unmerited pride surfaces), and I found myself saying, “Some of these lyrics need to be in English so I can understand.”
But constantly flowing was the beauty of the sound, the images of the city and Duomo, the sweeping videography or cinema-photography, accented with the empty street scenes of the world’s major cities. One quickly runs out of words and you simply say to yourself, “This is well done.” And, “There is more here than meets the eye.”
A big part of that “more than meets the eye,” as one might think, would be “What did he sing? And why?”
To answer those questions for those of you who might want to know, I have searched the web for translations into English and provide them below. If you care to listen and watch again, or a few times as I have, you can read as you hear his messages in song. The original lyrics are provided below the YouTube of the event.
As for his motives, I’ve provided what Andrea Bocelli himself provided in the introduction of the event. Tis beautiful and moving — humble, truthful, heartfelt, and strong.
The Lord be magnified and may He hear our prayers for healing. Amen.
Panis Angelicus (from “Messe Solennelle” Op. 12, FWV 61) César Franck
English Translation
May the Bread of Angels
Become bread for mankind;
The Bread of Heaven puts
All foreshadowings to an end;
Oh, thing miraculous!
The body of the Lord will nourish
the poor, the poor,
the servile, and the humble.
OR
English Translation (more literal)
The angel’s bread becomes the bread of men
The heavenly bread ends all symbols
Oh, miraculous thing! The body of the Lord will nourish
The poor, poor, and humble servant
The poor, poor, and humble servant
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ave Maria, CG 89a (arr. from Johann Sebastian Bach, “Prelude” no. 1, BWV 846)
Charles-François Gounod
The “Hail Mary” prayer is itself the chief Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary, the mother of God. The text is partially a direct quote from the Archangel Gabriel, when he descends from heaven and appears to the Virgin Mary, telling her she has been blessed to carry the Lord, Jesus Christ, within her womb. [Luke 1:28]
Ave Maria English Translation
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sancta Maria (arr. from “Cavalleria Rusticana”, Intermezzo)
Pietro Mascagni
Hail Mary,
full of grace,
the Lord is with you,
blessed, blessed you are, amongst women,
and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Sancta Maria,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Sancta Maria,
Sancta Maria,
pray for us
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Domine Deus (from “Petite Messe Solennelle”)
Gioachino Antonio Rossini
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son,
The only-begotten, Jesus Christ!
O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Lamb of God,
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ!
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord the only-begotten Son,
The only-begotten, Jesus Christ!
O Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
Son of the Father.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Amazing Grace
John Newton
Arr. William Ross
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan. I believe in the strength of praying together; I believe in the Christian Easter, a universal symbol of rebirth that everyone – whether they are believers or not – truly needs right now. Thanks to music, streamed live, bringing together millions of clasped hands everywhere in the world, we will hug this wounded Earth’s pulsing heart, this wonderful international forge that is reason for Italian pride. The generous, courageous, proactive Milan and the whole of Italy will be again, and very soon, a winning model, engine of a renaissance that we all hope for. It will be a joy to witness it, in the Duomo, during the Easter celebration which evokes the mystery of birth and rebirth” Andrea Bocelli
[Bolding and italics mine.]