The purpose of music is endless. All artforms are like that. Beautiful Savior, today’s offertory anthem, serves a very unique purpose, the purpose of comfort. Written by F. Melius Christiansen, a Norwegian immigrant who led the St. Olaf choir for 30 years, this piece is legendary. The St. Olaf choir is known for their impeccable intonation, seamless blend, and decadent vocal richness that no other college choir has ever been able to match. The profound musicianship and educational impact of F. Melius Christiansen lives on, even today. The choir ends every concert with this piece, and if you’ve never heard them sing this, you’re really missing out! They come to St. Petersburg often, so next time they’re on tour, make note of it, and go hear them.

Beautiful Savior was a comfort to me, when my best friend and mentor, Robbie Giroir passed away unexpectedly in 2018. Robbie was a brilliant organist, choral conductor and mentor. I considered him my best friend of 30 years. His home pipe organ now resides in my home, a gift from his sister Danette. Robbie fell in love with this piece later in his career and sang it with his choirs at Baton Rouge High School, and the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Baton Rouge, where he was the organist/choirmaster for 35 years.  

I provided the organ music and conducted the choir at Robbie’s funeral that late December, 2018, and this was one of the pieces that the choir sang. As difficult as it was to actually do the music during the service, there was a palpable comfort that helped me through it. Some of his students, who sang that morning, feared an emotional breakdown while singing this piece. I had to give them a pep talk and to remind them of our purpose as musicians during that moment – to comfort the grieving. And the music helped guide us to that very thing. We were all comported, and it was very moving, but without a single, emotional meltdown to be seen in the faces looking back at me, the conductor.

This piece reminds us of the multifaceted aspects of God’s presence in our lives. It begins very unusually, with just humming in the choir (God’s energy). The second verse, an alto solo, seems to just emerge from out of nowhere (God’s mysterious, still small voice). And in the last verse, the choral parts all culminate in the singing of praise and adoration (God’s almighty strength and power).

The truth is that we cannot be separated from that which created us. Even in times of grief, you cannot be removed from the source of life itself. You are part of that source, the beginning and the ending, the eternal nature of God with us. How wonderful is that comforting message, that no one is alone in this world. Music serves the power of truth, the knowing of God as our source creator. That’s a comfort that soothes like no words can. It gives you a sense that you are connected to the totality of everything, and you’re always welcome to feel God’s love, no matter what you’ve done or how poorly you feel about yourself. God loves all, period. This music is a source of comfort to me, it reminds me that I am worthy of God’s love, and to receive the benefits of such worthiness.

I hope that our version of Beautiful Savior is a source of comfort for you too, as you prepare for your upcoming, Lenten journey. But even in that season of penitence, you will always know of God’s presence – God as an energy, God as a still small voice, or God a raging exaltation of praise! Thanks be to God, the healer, the soother, the comforter. Soli deo Gloria!