Ravel’s “Bolero,” Mary Magdalene, and Evangelizing

The credit for this article belongs to a parish friend and priest, Monsignor John Halloran, Pastor Emeritus, St. Thomas More Parish, Narragansett, RI.  In a recent homily at morning Mass, Msgr. Halloran talked about Maurice Ravel’s beautiful masterpiece “Bolero” and Mary Magdalene, and the power of the repeated message.  I’ve added some of my own thoughts to his homily.

Before reading any further, you might want to listen to a recording of “Bolero” if you are not that familiar with it.   There are many versions on YouTube, but my favorite is Orquesta Joven de la Sinfonica de Galicia (Gallaeca Symphony Orchestra of the Young).  This version is a bit long, 17.27 minutes to be exact, but it is worth the time.  There are also less lengthy versions on YouTube.  One of my favorite shorter versions is the Flash Mob version in Spain which is about 8.26 minutes long.

“Bolero” starts with a drum beat and a single instrument that plays a melody.  As the symphony progresses, the same melody is repeated by different instruments.   This sound changes as each gifted musician adds his or her instrumental piece to the tune.  The melody is the same throughout, but the entirety of the music influenced by each instrument is spellbinding.

Gradually, more and more instruments are playing the same melody simultaneously.  The symphony ends in a crescendo of all instruments playing the same melody, which is the magnificence of this symphony.

The First Message

When we think of the very first message of the Risen Christ delivered by Mary Magdalene, it is like the very first drum beat and musical instrument of Bolero.  Mary starts the message.  She is the drumbeat and also the first instrument.  Mary says, “I have seen the Lord,” and shares what she witnessed with the Apostles.  Mary is the Apostle to the Apostles.  From her encounter with the Risen Jesus to her announcement to the initially disbelieving others, Mary Magdalene was the Catholic Church.

Like the melody in Bolero, the message, “He has Risen,” is repeated in scripture.  The first time is when Jesus appears to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus LK 24:13-35.  It is repeated  again when He appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem LK 24:36-49.   And Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus ACTS 9:1-9  is another piece added to the message, “He has Risen.”

Throughout all Catholic History, the same message, in a way, the same melody, is repeated.  It is repeated by all the Martyrs, Saints, Doctors of the Church, Popes, Clergy, and faithful laity.  Do you think that any one of the early Church leaders could have imagined that their often-repeated message, and their intense belief in that message, could have resulted in a crescendo that is, today, a worldwide church of over 1.5 billion followers and still growing?

Adding to the Melody

While listening and watching the musicians playing Bolero on their instruments, one cannot help but notice the intensity they contribute with their piece to the symphony.  Reading and then contemplating scripture can be an intense and fruitful experience as well.  That kind of intensity can be found in you and me when we, with our gifts, become instruments of His Peace.

Contemplate et contemplate aliis tradere (to contemplate and hand on to others the fruits of study) is one of the three mottoes of the Dominican Order.  Although we are not Dominicans, we are charged through our Baptism and Confirmation to live and preach the good news of our Lord’s message in a way to add to the melody, “He has Risen.”

Knowing Jesus is good, but unless we preach that knowledge, it is not good enough.  We believe that the word was made flesh in Jesus; that as God, Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, healed lepers, cured the lame, raised the dead, and forgave sins.  Only God can do these things, and we need to tell others about these events.  In our own way and with our unique gifts, we must add to the symphony.  We must keep playing the melody.

Jesus’ Gifts to Us

When Jesus left us on earth, he didn’t abandon us; He left us His Holy Spirit.  He also left us with the mysterious concept of the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  In a way, Jesus left us with all the instruments to create a crescendo of living our lives: to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him, and to be with Him forever.  Like the performance of Bolero in the Spanish marketplace, the repeated message draws a crowd.

Leonard Hunter, writing here at Catholic Stand, says in The Restless Heart of God that God has wired us to be with Him forever and that this message needs to be repeated.  Scripture is the word of God as told by human writers who, in turn, share scripture with us.  Our mission is to add to the melody and share His Word that was made flesh with others.

Whenever I hear or see good news or inspirational messages, I want to share that good news with others.  This is just one of many inspirations from Monsignor Halloran.