There’s a scene in the movie The Mission that shows what I’m talking about. A Jesuit, loosely based on the missionary and martyr St. Roque Gonzalez, comes into the jungle to make contact with the native people who had killed another priest. He sits down and plays a hauntingly beautiful melody on his recorder. The South American Indians come—armed, hostile, suspicious—but the music brings about a miracle of reconciliation. Watch the scene here.
Several of these songs are prayers. From Ireland comes Van Morrison’s lyrical “Have I Told You Lately that I Love You” and U2’s rock anthem “Yahweh.” Also listen to Alison Krauss’s heartfelt “Palm of Your Hand.”
There’s no cheap grace in “After the Storm” by Mumford and Sons and “Every Grain of Sand” by Bob Dylan, covered here by Emmylou Harris. The imagery in the music video for “That’s Why I Pray” by Big and Rich is haunting.
“One of Us” by Joan Osborne is a rock-pop reflection on the question, “What would it mean if Jesus became one of us?” Here is a clip from what I call the Discernment Song—“Lead Me, Guide Me,” by Elvis Presley.
I’ll wrap this up with “Ah, Tutti Contenti,” the conclusion of Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro, which blends forgiveness, love, and celebration in one unforgettable melody.
Share your own favorite spiritual music in the comments.
Following along with #31DayswithIgnatius? Today’s 31 Days with St. Ignatius link is Wading into the Ocean by Marina McCoy.