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“Music for the End of Time,” by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Beth Peck
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2005, 32 pages, Grades 2-4

In 1940, the country of France entered one of the darkest periods in its history. In a mere six weeks, the army of Adolf Hitler’s Germany overran France. The Germans conquered the country so quickly that the French were left in a state of numbed confusion.

When the Allied armies were evacuated from the French port city of Dunkirk, no formal military opposition to the Nazis was left in France. The Germans quickly took many French soldiers to prisoner of war camps. The noted French composer and musician, Olivier Messiaen, a devout Catholic, was among these unfortunate captives.

Bouncing along in a truck with other French prisoners of war (POW), Messiaen is despondent. Soon the truck pulls into a POW camp and the prisoners are unloaded inside the barbed-wire enclosure. Not only has their country been crushed by the Nazis, but they themselves are now under the oppressive strength of the Third Reich.

Messiaen feels the loss of his wife and son. In the cold barracks, he starts having trouble remembering the beauty of the natural world that once so inspired his music. Prior to the war, he had begun composing some new music, and has carefully carried the compositions in his backpack. Inside the cellblock, he moves his pack and the sheet music rustles. Instantly, the other prisoners think he has managed to hide some food. When he explains that the noise is the sheet music he uses for his compositions, the other prisoners belittle him. What good is sheet music in a POW camp with little food? Messiaen tells the other prisoners that music gives him hope. But after their response, he begins to doubt whether music will be of any value in prison.

Still, each day he thinks of his family and home. He imagines playing his piano and teaching his former music students. He remembers the music of birds in his yard. These remembrances cause a longing in his heart to perform and write music. He stares at the birds flying and singing outside of the camp. A German officer notices Olivier watching the birds. Clearly, he is different from the other French POWs.

Unexpectedly, he asks the French musician if he would like to write some music. To Messiaen’s stunned amazement, the German leads him to a small room and tells the Frenchman that he can come there each day and write music. With this he departs, leaving the musician alone. As Messiaen looks about this stark room, he continues to hear the beautiful birds singing near the camp. The pain of his situation, the loveliness of birds’ singing, the generosity of the German officer all begin to form in his mind. Once again, music flows from his pen.

In the midst of what could have been the darkest despair, Messiaen begins composing one of the 20th century’s great masterpieces. The hope found in this moving work is drawn from the Book of Revelation and the splendor of the Incarnation of Our Lord. It will be known as the “Quartet for the End of Time.”

How does Messiaen find this magnificent hope? How does a nightingale help him discover the meaning of hope? When the music was first played in the prison camp, why do the German soldiers and the French prisoners listen together with rapt attention? Why does their attention cause this talented composer to later say: “Never have I been heard with such attention and understanding.”

What can the life of Messiaen teach us today? How do we find hope? Why can beauty be found even in the darkest moments of life? To learn how Messiaen discovered this great gift, read “Music for the End of Time” by Jen Bryant. I was touched by this moving story, and hope that you will discover its beauty as well.

Opening Minds and Hearts
By Fr. William Grant
Member, Diocesan Evangelization Committee

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

As part of our spiritual preparations for Lent, I would like to offer the following imaginary conversation with Jesus (and another one in a couple of weeks) based on some of this year’s Lenten Gospels.

Imagine yourself accompanying Jesus as he meets the Samaritan Woman at the well. I realize that he didn’t really bring any disciples along, but this time he’s bringing you! To prepare yourself, please take a few moments to read John 4. Then continue here.
“Do you see that woman over there?” Jesus asks you. “I can tell you already that she is really thirsty.”

“Well, Lord, this is a well. People do come here for water.”

“No, no, I mean thirsty in her heart. She just may not realize it yet.”

“Wait a minute, Lord, are you sure about this? She just doesn’t look very, you know, respectable.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you think she’s dressed rather immodestly?”

“That’s why I said she’s thirsty. I want to help her find the love she’s really looking for: My Father’s love.”

“But, Lord! What are you thinking? If you talk to people like that, no one will take you seriously.”

“Honestly, if I didn’t talk to people like her, no one would take me seriously.”

Then, after she goes back to the village: “You see how well that went? Now she’s excited, because she has a chance to start her life over.”

“Lord, how did you know she had so many men in her life?”

“I just know those things. But I want you to take stock of something. You jumped to the same conclusion just because of the way she looked. And I guess you were right, so you knew what her lifestyle was. What you didn’t understand was what she was feeling in her heart.”

“What do you mean, Lord?”

“You already know right from wrong. I didn’t have to explain that her life was out of order. But you didn’t want to give her a chance.”

“Yes, I did! It’s just that I was hoping she would fix what’s wrong in her life so that she could follow you, too.”

“You started following me before you had your life in order. Actually, you still don’t have your life in order. But why should I not forgive her the same way I keep forgiving you?”
“So, why did you bring me along?”

“Because next time it’s your turn! There are a lot of people in your life who are as thirsty as she is, who are hurting as much as she does, who need me like she does—and like you do too. Next time, I don’t want you to ignore them. I don’t want you to wait for them to change. I want to you love them now, not later… the way I love you!”

Father Chavez Addresses Knights of Columbus

By S.L. Hansen

LINCOLN (SNR) - Lincoln-area Knights of Columbus had the unique opportunity to meet with Father Phillip F. Chavez, S.O.L.T. Jan. 27. Father Chavez, who has a unique outreach ministry to young men and to Knights of Columbus councils, spoke to the Knights and then had a question-and-answer session for some time at the Lincoln Knights of Columbus Hall.

He was brought to Lincoln by two Catholic organizations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). The Newman Center and Phi Kappa Theta, the Catholic fraternity, held a retreat-like gathering for young men with Father Chavez as the keynote speaker over Friday evening and Saturday.

UNL FOCUS missionary David Trotter first heard about Father Chavez and his unique ministry during a FOCUS training session.

“Our founder, Curtis Martin, referenced this priest a couple of times,” he said.

Curious, Mr. Trotter visited Father Chavez’s web site at www.frphillipchavez.org and thought, “This guy is awesome. We’ve got to bring him to the University.”

As a First Degree Knight himself, Mr. Trotter was also interested in Father Chavez’s outreach program for the Knights of Columbus.

Father Chavez has been speaking with various Knights of Columbus councils in an effort to “rekindle their members with the vision, mission and spirit of [founder] Father Michael J. McGivney.”

It made sense to Mr. Trotter that as long as Father Chavez was in town, there might be an opportunity for him to deliver a short talk for the local Knights. The idea was welcomed, and Knights were notified of the talk by e-mail and word of mouth.

Sunday evening, Father Chavez told the small gathering of Knights from various councils that his three-fold mission, developed under the guidance of his superiors, is to help men find their masculine identity in the Church, show them how to walk in faith, and teach them how to mentor others.

He noted that men are naturally inclined to be heroic, even as little boys who turn sticks into imaginary swords that can vanquish evil.

“Men want something to fight for and they want other men to lead them in a purpose,” he said.

Father Chavez reminded the men gathered that this was Father McGivney’s purpose in launching the Knights of Columbus.

“The Knights are a great support to the Church – indispensable, really,” Father Chaves said. “But young men are losing their place, and you are the guys who can mentor them.”

Referring to himself as “the wrong side of 40,” Father Chavez described what some Knights near his home on the East Coast are doing to help young men by encouraging them to pick a battle and engage in it. He spoke of Knights who take groups to pray the rosary in front of strip clubs or porn shops, or who lead younger men in right-to-life rallies.
“Young men admire the guys who put forth that kind of energy, who say, ‘We’re going to fight for this,’” Father Chavez stated. “They’re looking for the kind of validation that only you older guys can give them.”

Kevin Ostdiek, who is grand knight for Council #11001 at Blessed Sacrament Parish, was inspired by Father Chavez.

“I was very impressed by him and what he is trying to accomplish,” he said. “We tend to get so involved in what we are doing for the parish or to raise money, sometimes you lose site of the fact that one of the reasons Father McGivney started this was to give young men a tie to the church and to teach them what it means to be a good Catholic man.”

Mr. Ostdiek has been in the Knights since he graduated from high school in Lawrence, Nebraska. “I grew up in one of those towns where every dad’s a knight and every kid graduates from high school and becomes a knight.”

As grand knight for his council, one of his goals is to increase membership. He is hopeful that Father Chavez’s ideas will help him create meaningful opportunities that will appeal to the younger generation of men in his parish.

Dennis Clare of Council #11280 at St. John the Apostle Parish in Lincoln was similarly energized. “I think his message to young people sounds exciting,” he said.

Mr. Clare added that Father Chavez’s talk helped strengthen his resolve to become a mentor by, “approaching somebody that you might not know who’s either in your council or a friend, to help them out in life and in the small ways.”

Mr. Trotter said that the university men who got to hear Father Chavez over the weekend were, “pushed to the limit, physically, mentally and spiritually.”

He continued, “I hope they form a band of brothers not only amongst themselves but also getting friends involved. I hope they see they don’t have to be a weak man to be a Catholic. And the final thing is, I hope these guys pick a battle and engage in it – close down an abortion clinic, or pick a place that’s selling porn like a convenience store and get them to take out the magazines… That’s going to take putting a lot on the line.”
And that’s what Father Chavez’s ministry is all about.