On Saturday 26 October, to celebrate the centenary of the pontifical approval of the Teresian Association, the church of Santa Marina la Real in Leon opened its doors for a concert by the Capella Lauda choir. The large church was filled to capacity.
Concert for a Centenary
The stunning beauty and incredible acoustics of the church create an environment where everyone is invited to experience inner silence and deep listening – and the attendees were able to do just that! The audience was made up of people invited by the TA and by the choir which has an excellent reputation in Leon.
The welcoming address made it clear that the concert was about more than just music. It was about the meaning of the TA, the significance of the centenary of pontifical approval, the recognition of a lay vocation in the Church and the vision of St Pedro Poveda at the dawn of the twentieth century.
We were given a clear overview of the origin of the TA in Covadonga in 1911. Reference was made to the educational mission of the TA, along with its comprehensive approach to education that encompasses all aspects, including the aesthetic and creative.
'Exultate Deo', the sacred music of our times
Exultate Deo, was the title given to the concert by the Capella Lauda Choir. The conductor, David de la Calle, thanked the TA for the invitation and observed that it is an association with many educational and cultural projects.
The afternoon programme consisted of mostly sacred works by contemporary composers. Each of the works performed (ten in all) was presented in detail. They included Let the river run, O magnum mysterium, Exultate Deo, Baba Yetu (Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer).
It was a rewarding experience that somehow lifted those present out of the daily grind and left them all feeling that a transcendent experience was engraved on their hearts.
TA Centenary team in Leon.
Published in News