In this excerpt from her new book on Leondard Cohen, Marcia Pally examines his use of Jewish and Christian biblical images in the singer-swongwriter’s lyrics.
Music
Posted inArts & Culture, Podcasts
Podcast: The Christmas carols we love—and love to hate
On a special Christmas episode of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley discuss the meaning of Christmas hymns and share their favorite (and least favorite) holiday songs and movies.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
Is ‘Joy to the World’ really right for Christmas?
Something has started, something good, and we are going to be a part of it. But what is it exactly? Wait and see.
Posted inArts & Culture, Podcasts
Catholics cannot ignore the harm caused by Kanye West
This week on “The Gloria Purvis Podcast,” Gloria speaks with Binta Niambi Brown, a talent manager in the music and entertainment industry, about the need for Catholics to denounce Kanye West’s anti-Black and antisemitic remarks.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
‘In the Bleak Midwinter’: Christmas carols don’t have to sound joyful to turn our hearts to Jesus
Where a lot of Catholic Christmas hymns lean into the more fantastical elements—angels, stars, kings—“In the Bleak Midwinter” points us instead to the ordinary.
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
Two versions of Canada’s oldest Christmas carol tell very different stories about the Nativity—and Indigenous people
Jesuit missionary Jacques de Brébeuf worked with the Indigenous Huron people for years and wanted to give the people a carol of their own, in their own language.
Posted inArts & Culture, Podcasts
Podcast: Matt Maher on ‘The Chosen,’ anxiety, racial justice and his new album
This week on Jesuitical, Ashley and Zac are joined by Matt Maher. Matt is a nine-time-GRAMMY nominee and three-time-GMA Dove Award winning musician. His latest album is “The Stories I Tell Myself.”
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
The Top 10 Christmas hymns played in churches
Results of a poll of 9,000 Christian churches last December were released this Dec. 1. What Christmas carols made the Top 10?
Posted inArts & Culture, Music
The story of ‘Carol of the Bells,’ a Christmas classic born in Ukraine
How is a song used in 100 holiday ads somehow connected to Ukraine? It turns out every carol that we sing at Christmas has a story behind it, some inspiring, some strange.
Posted inFaith, The Good Word
To find God’s revelation, one can turn to music
Can a song save your life? Can a canticle change your life, fundamentally alter its course?