I remember seeing a quote from Handel -- I'm pretty sure it was Handel -- a few days ago that demonstrated his Christianity and love of God's grace. I just read in my Western Civ. textbook that Handel was thoroughly secular, so I'd like to look again at that quote and perhaps show it to my professor. Can anyone link me to that? I have searched for a long time.

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Ben Maas. . . . .Facebook
In college, attending First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Ada, OH, and
Belle Center Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCNA), Belle Center, OH
When at home, attending Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC), Mansfield, OH

“Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life.”
-Jonathan Edwards-

The Messiah?

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Adam B., Wine Country, California, PCA

"I fear not to hold with Junius, de Politia Mosis cap. 6, that he who was punishable by death under that Judicial law, is punishable by death still; and he who was not punished by death then, is not to be punished by death now."

The quote was mentioned in conjunction with the Messiah.

Also, the textbook mentioned Handel's Messiah but said that he was otherwise very secular.

This is quite an astounding assertion, as one could find a handful of Handel's contemporaries and countrymen who did not make such overtly Christian works. No one forced him, he did it willingly.

I have a pamphlet somewhere discussing his faith; I'll see if I can dig it up.

Cheers,

Handel was an earthy Lutheran among more straight-laced Englishmen. Many were scandalized at "The Messiah" because it involved regular performers treating the word of God in a popular concert. Handel rebuffed them, saying in effect, that he knew his Bible as well as any bishop and believed it was proper to bring to the people.

No question he knew his Bible, and that he treasured putting God's word to music.

I don't have any quote re the Messiah, but I recall reading of him saying on his death bed that he hoped to meet his "good God", and "his sweet Lord and Savior, on the day of his Resurrection."

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Raymond Victor Bottomly
Providence Reformed Baptist Church, Tacoma, WA

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

A good point! What is the definition of "secular" being used. Secular compared to what? If compared to the piosities of certain forms of Christianity, most of the Lutherans and Calvinists would be considered secular.

Cheers,

mmmmm... I love Handel. Not only did he write a remarkably beautiful masterpiece, he did it to glorify God. He loved the Lord.

Classical music is perhaps my first (chronologically) love, and it makes it all the richer for me to perform works that were written to praise our magnificent Creator.

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Megan Meisberger
River Hills Community Church - EFCA (yes... same as charliejunfan)
Janesville, WI

Wife of matt.meisberger

<---- Naming my first son after him. My husband was saved while reading Religious Affections.

John Newton, that old converted slave-trader, preached a series of sermons based on every biblical text Handel used in Messiah. It's quite a thick book!

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Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.alexandermaclaren.wordpress.com
www.reiterations.wordpress.com
www.spurgeonswords.wordpress.com

Devout souls do not take offence at the depths and difficulties of God's Word, but are, thereby, drawn to intenser contemplation of them. - Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)

Contrary to popular belief, Handel did not right the libretto for "Messiah". It was compiled by Charles Jennens, the librettist who worked with Handel on other works such as "Saul".

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J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

Here's some Handel quotes. I don't know if they're what you're looking for, though:
about George Friderick Handel

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Jonathan
Audio Engineer
Reformed Anabaptist
Ohio

Moroni's magical glasses of proper interpretation:

Greetings:

The libretto for The Messiah was not written by Handel, but by Charles Jennens.

Here is a quote for you:

In one of his few surviving letters, Handel comforts his brother-in-law on the death of Handel’s mother: “It pleased the almighty, to who’s Holy Will I submit myself with Christian submissions.”

found here: Arts and Entertainment|Regency Amusements|Games|pastimes | The Creation of <i>Messiah</i>

Blessings,

Rob

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In Essentials Unity, in non-Essentials Liberty, in all things Charity.

Robert Paul Wieland
Springs Reformed Presbyterian Church
Colorado Springs, CO RPCNA
Student at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh PA
Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark, but professionals built the Titanic.

I remember reading somewhere that Handel wrote yhe Messiah in a white heat of composition in a space of about ten days, after which he said something like "methought I did see the whole Heaven open before me...."
It certainly sounds as if he had, especially that closing chorus "Worthy is the Lamb"

-----Added 9/19/2009 at 04:08:12 EST-----

Incidentally if you look at that first sentence above which I typed rather fast, you may see a clue to why in historical times they spelt the definite article with a y instead of a t.
It was clearly because they are side by side on the keyboard.

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JennyG
Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)
Fife, Scotland