Monsignor Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington posts regularly. Recently he had some reflections on the importance of music that climaxed with a remarkable video.

Scripture says the Lord puts music in our hearts and that many, by it will be summoned to faith: The Lord set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:3-4)

Yes, music can often reach where mere words cannot.

In this remarkable video, there is a older man, Henry, who, likely due to seizures or other age-related factors, had largely turned inward. In fact his very posture illustrates well St. Augustines remarkable diagnosis of our problem: curvatus in se (turned in on himself).

Henrys daughter remembers a lively vivacious man who quite literally danced through life a had such a joix de vivre. But in the last ten years he had shut down and turned in.

Then the miracle, a miracle in something ordinary, yet mystical: music. Wait till you see how it awakens Henry. Quite an astonishing difference. Yes, and suddenly there came the discovery for the staff of the nursing home, and Henrys daughter, that there was someone alive inside Henrys aging body. Alive indeed, the human soul still deeply touched by the good, the true, and the beautiful.

Henry says when he hears music, I feel loved.the Lord came to me and made me a holy manSo he gave me these sounds.

The whole post and the video to which he refers is here.