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This episode I share about “Into Great Silence”, the third selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Netflix streaming (which may have a trial subscription).
The movie is a documentary chronicling the lives of the monks of Grand Chartreuse, of the Carthusian Order, founded by Bruno of Cologne, founded in 1084.
These monks are silent throughout most of the film, save for when they are chanting the entire Psalms, or other rare times. For the rest of the time there, they live a simple life, living off of the land.
There is a powerful interview near the end of the film with a person sharing God’s love for us.
The movie was a hit in New York City when it was released in 2006, because people wanted to escape from the craziness of everyday life and live the life of a monk for two and a half hours.
This is a hard film to sit through for the entirety of the film, but it works very well to watch in twenty-minute segments.
There is great power in praying with this film, and listening for God in the silence.
I share my experiences staying at a monastery for a time many years ago.
Psalms are very powerful to be used in personal prayer.
If you’re used to praying a very particular (modern American) way, you may want to have your prayer life shaken up a little, and participate in a very different style of praying.
Next week: Ordet
The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)
A songsheet is available for this episode. Right-click here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.
SONG OF THE WEEK
“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor
From the album “Beautiful Things” by Gungor (2010)
Copyright (c) 2010 worshiptogether.com songs
Episode Log Times
2:18 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:28 – O God Be Merciful To Me / Psalm 130
8:20 – Jesus Breaks Every Fetter/Good It Is to Keep the Fast
12:27 – Within Your House
15:44 – Worthy Is the Lamb
21:44 – Passer Invénit Síbi Dómum
23:34 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:59 – Song of the Week (“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor)
39:13 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Into Great Silence”)
51:22 – Final Comments and Doxology
********************SONGS***********************
O GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME
Thomas Campian, 1613, Cornelius Elven, 1852
1. With broken heart and contrite sight
A trembling sinner, Lord I cry:
Thy pard’ning grace is rich and free:
O God be merciful to me.
2. I smite upon my troubl’d breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppress’d
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God be merciful to me.
3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes
Nor dare uplift them to the skies
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God be merciful to me.
4. Nor alms nor deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone
To Calvary alone I flee
O God be merciful to me.
Public Domain;
PSALM 130
Nick Alexander, based on the Scottish Psalter (Psalm 130) circa 1635
Lord, from the depths I cry
My voice, Lord, do hear
Let supplication’s voice give attentive ear.
Lord, who shall stand if You mark iniquity?
Yet, Your forgiveness is available through Thee.
Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music
JESUS BREAKS EVERY FETTER
v.1 unknown
v.2-5, Nick Alexander
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
And He sets me free!
He’s the rock of my salvation…
And He sets me free!
Jesus offers us redemption…
And He sets us free!
How He hears us when we call Him
And He sets us free!
Lord, we thank You for Your mercy…
And You set us free!
Public Domain
GOOD IT IS TO KEEP THE FAST
Gregory the Great, 6th Century
Good it is to keep the fast
Shadow’d forth in ages past
Which our own almighty Lord
Hallowed by His deed
Moses, while He fasted saw
God Who gave by Him the law
To Elijah, angels came
Steeds of fire and car of flame
So was Daniel meet to gaze
On the sight of latter days
And the Baptist to proclaim
Blessings through the Bridegroom’s Name.
Grant us Lord, like them to be
Oft in pray’r and fast with Thee
Fill us with Thy heav’nly might
Be our joy and true delight.
Father hear us through Thy Son
And the Spirit with Thee, One
Whom our thankful hearts adore
Ever and forevermore!
Public Domain
WITHIN YOUR HOUSE
Nick Alexander
The sparrow finds a home
The swallow, finds a nest
Where to place her young
Near to Your altars, Lord of hosts, my King.
My God, how happy are they
Who dwell within Your house
They will be praising You forever.
When we eat this bread and drink this cup
We will live in You and You in us
It’s a foretaste when we will be as one.
Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music
WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Author Unknown
1. Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
2. Jesus is the Lamb
3. Glory to the Lamb
Public Domain
PASSER INVENIT SIBI DOMUM (Ps 84:3-4)
Roman Gradual
Passer invénit síbi dómum,et túrtur nídum
ubi repónat púllos suos: altária tua Dómine virtútum,
Rex méus, et Déus méus: beáti qui hábitant in dómo túa,
in saéculum saéculi laudábunt te.
The sparrow hath found herself a home, the swallow a nest
Where she would leave there that young of hers
Near to the altars of Thine, Dearest Lord of Hosts.
Sovereign King and Great God of mine,
How happy are those who dwell in that home You live,
Where all those there, for all time, will worship You.
Public Domain
All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.
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Thank you for listening!
That film is an absolute masterpiece. I agree that it works best in smaller chunks – I’ve had great success showing it in segments to middle school students. It helps them understand the attraction and the freedom of silence. I can’t say enough good things about Into Great Silence.