Was introduced to music and singing very very early in life. I probably "began to sing before I could talk."
This blog puts music into every aspect of life - with a generous dose of nostalgia.
Check out my website at www.sunilpintoentertains.com
It's International Women's Day... and the internet has been raging with articles, most good - some not...
My parish at OLPS Chembur regularly participates in the Vacation Bible Joy program - a bible camp created by the Archdiocese of Bombay for our school children during the vacations. A couple of years ago the theme of the VBJ was Biblical Women of Strength, which showcased most of the strong women who were part of the Women's Day post on the Archdiocese of Bombay Facebook Page this morning.
Where's the music? Right about here... Whom should I start with? How about the great-grandmother of King David? Ruth (around 1100 B.C)
One of the favorite songs at weddings for many years has been the Song of Ruth.
However, this song is not a romantic song sung by a wife to her husband, but is actually a song by the Ruth to her also widowed mother-in-law Naomi when Naomi decided to return to Judea from Moab. Ruth followed her mother-in-laws guidance and marries a distant family member Boaz (The entire account pans out in the biblical Book of Ruth). Esther (around 400 B.C)
Esther was the Jewish bride of the Persian king Xerxes, who protected the Israelites living in the kingdom with the wisdom and guidance of God... (The Book of Esther).
Hannah (maybe around 1200 B.C)
Hannah's importance in the Bible is in reiterating the POWER of prayer. She yearned for a son, and thanks to her persistence in faith was blessed with Samuel, who she dedicated to the temple as she had promised before his birth. He went to be the last of the Judges, a prophet and the anointer of the Kings to come. Here's Hannah's Prayer in song.
Mother Mary
The most powerful of all Biblical Women is by far, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Even today people throng to pay devotions to Mother Mary in Fatima, Lourdes and closer to home for novenas at Mahim, and to a lesser extent, Chembur. Among the many songs devoted to her, I have a special attachment to Momma Mary, a song I first heard sung by Fr. Robyn Selwyn S.J.
There are many more inspiring women that we can learn from - in the Bible and in the life of the Saints. Do check out my favorite resource on Saints at www.franciscanmedia.org
Meanwhile, registrations are currently open for the next round of VBJ in Chembur. Do register your kids.
Over the past nine days, my kids along with around a hundred others have been attending the Marian Nativity Novena at our parish in Chembur and preparing to celebrate the birthday of Mother Mary which is celebrated today - 8th September.
Devotions to our Blessed Mother started for me at an early age. Growing up in a parish dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and studying in a school with the same name surely helped. Also the daily Rosary at home was an absolute must - encouraged by God-fearing parents and grandmothers. As a teenager, I was introduced to an active church association dedicated to Mother Mary - called the Legion of Mary (Legio Mariae). Over the next decade or so, the devotion grew along with leadership skills as I took on various roles of responsibility within the Legion. Taking a cue from the role Mother Mary played in life of Jesus and others, we too were called on to be alert to the needs of those around us and to respond to those needs with love care and compassion as only Momma Mary could.
That song just came into my head this morning with the picture of a vibrant priest who was responsible for some of the best holidays we had as a family during my teen years. Fr. Robin Selwyn used to run Family Camps in the Jesuit 'St. Mary's Villa' at Khandala. A fantastic singer and guitarist, he could sing almost anything - from contemplative melodies to frivolous party songs - in his on inimitable style. Another Marian favorite that I recall him sing is the song made famous by the Beatles - Let It Be. While the original is played on the piano by Paul McCartney, I particularly like this version I found earlier today with Alicia Keys and John Legend.
"A song that that comforted generations with it's beauty and message" - has the comforter in the person of Mother Mary who played the comforting role in God's eternal plan for salvation. Her role did not end 2000 years ago, but she still continues to be that comfort in the heavenly role as Queen and Mother... a look at the the crowds that throng to Mount Mary's -Bandra and St. Michael's Church - Mahim in Mumbai and the host of Marian Shrines in Vailankanni, Fatima, Lourdes and everywhere else is only testimony of how powerful her intercession can be. We all are blessed to have Mother Mary as our mother - and be happy to let her - Be With Us, Mary...
