From the Holy Father's comments following a piano recital of great works played on seven historical instruments:

Music, great music, gives the spirit repose, awakens profound sentiments and almost naturally invites us to lift up our mind and heart to God in every situation, whether joyous or sad, of human existence. Music can become prayer. Thanks again to those who organized this beautiful evening. Dear friends, I bless you all from the heart.

Last night the priest celebrating Mass preached on, among other things, Beauty and Truth, and the power of Beauty to lead us to Truth if we search diligently. This is an idea that resonates with me in every aspect of my life, particularly musicianship, stitching, and gardening.

Gardening and stitching each produce a finished product which is the visible, tangible result of the effort put into them. The beauty of a stitched work is set and can be enjoyed at all times, while the beauty of the garden changes from day to day. Music, on the other hand, can only be experienced in the Now while it is taking place.

In gardening, the spirit of hope informs our work--we weed and plant and prune today so that tomorrow and tomorrow there will be fruit and beauty.

In stitching, we encourage each other to bring pieces to completion, and rejoice in each other's finishes. The spirit of hope is present as we stitch as well. I used to sign my stitching-groups e-mail with "Every stitch a prayer", as my late mum would say over the quilts she and other ladies of our church would stitch for charity. May all our stitching be a repose and a prayer, and the finished pieces likewise.

In music, I often think how, for us liturgical musicians, we often have difficulty praying while making the music for which we are responsible, and the 'end product' is fleeting. May the music we make invite prayer and become prayer, even as we must pay attention to doing the work of creating it. May it lift our hearts and minds to God and focus our attention on Him and not us.