Sounds and sights for the Lenten Season

The Jesuit Music Ministry has really grown. It now rivals a regular entertainment firm as far as product range and frequency of market release are concerned. Of course, there remains a difference and it is that when an album, video or television show comes with this label, it is definitely something that contains not just entertainment but also nourishment for the soul.

At a time when Lent has come to mean vacation time and when Easter is more associated with bunnies who spread painted hard-boiled eggs than with the fulfillment of the prophecy of redemption, the Jesuit Music Ministry offers some new TV movies that will help make things right.

Message Sent, Your Dwelling-Place and May Call Waiting Ka Ba? TV specials. If Bach and Jesus Christ, Superstar have become too familiar to be effective spiritually and if those biblical epics now arouse emotions rather than religiously, it might be time to take a look at these new releases.

Message Sent is about the missions. A Jesuit in Nigeria, a contemplative nun, a priest assigned to a mountain parish and a Little Brother of Jesus tell their stories. This airs on March 29, Good Friday at 9 p.m. over GMA-7 and the next day at 8:30 p.m. over RPN-9. Your Dwelling-Place is a musical featuring the Himig Heswita and Friends ordered around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This features the works of Jesuit composers like Eduardo Hontiveros, Manoling Francisco and Nemesio Que. This will be shown at 8 p.m. on Good Friday over GMA-7.

May Call Waiting Ka Ba? is a documentary about vocations. Three priests, a brother and a nun talk about how they found theirs and may you find yours too. This will be seen on March 28, Holy Thursday, at 9:30 p.m. over GMA-7 and on March 30, Black Saturday over RPN-9 at 8 p.m. Come Easter Sunday, you might want to check out Sunday for Skeptics, a TV Mass designed for young Catholics on Studio 23 at 8 a.m.

Sumisibol, Mga Awit ng Dulaang Sibol is a tribute album to the legendary teacher Onofre Pagsanghan, who spearheaded the famous theater group for young people from the Ateneo University. Non-Ateneans know Mr. Pagsi best as the man behind the musical Sinta, a Filipino adaptation of the wonderful Broadway institution The Fantasticks. The album is made up of songs from Sinta, other musicals and other works written and performed by members of the Dulaan, with one or two composed Pagsanghan himself. Among these are Kay Hesus Na Nakabayubay, Iba’t-ibang Pagdarasal, Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue, Alalahanin, Gunitain, Voice from the Heavens, Awit in Isaias and others.

Vespers 2, If I Could Touch You music for meditation featuring Lionel Zivan Valdellon on guitar and Ray Sison on flute. This is the second volume of a similar album also titled Vespers. If you are among those who see Lent as a time for introspection and soul-searching, then you will find this album a good companion piece. The soothing melodies make you feel at home. The arrangements are simple and unobtrusive. The performances are adequately competent. You can play this album over and over again this weekend. It will help you avoid distractions and keep you in a prayerful, Lenten frame of mind.

Among the cuts included are Papuri by Jandi Arboleda/Chito Salazar and Norman Agatep, Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad by Francisco Soc Rodrigo and Fruto Ll. Ramirez, SJ., If I Could Touch You by Manoling Francisco, SJ, Hesus ng Aking Buhay by Arnel Aquino, SJ, and Ang Puso’y Nagpupuri by Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ.

To close this piece, please allow me to share this old Marian prayer usually recited in place of the Angelus during the period following Easter until Pentecost Sunday: Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia/ for He whom thou was made worthy to bear, Alleluia/ has risen, as He said, Alleluia/ pray for us to God, Alleluia/ rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia/ for the Lord has risen indeed, Alleluia/ Let us pray/ O God, who willed to give joy to the world through the Resurrection of Thy Son, or Lord Jesus Christ/ grant we beseech thee/ that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary/ we may obtain the joys of everlasting life/ through the same Christ our Lord/ Amen.

Remember, the sorrows of Lent lead to glorious Easter. Have a happy one.