Anne Lastman.
Something amazing happened this afternoon as I sat at my desktop. I wanted a break from the computer and issue I was writing so I scrolled in Google for some amusement and came across a reel “America’s Talent Arena 2026,” a very recent episode and as I like this show I clicked and was left so (I don’t know word to use) so joy filled that I kept replaying it over and over.
A talented young man Elias Grace, a contestant, was to sing Amazing Grace, that beautiful and well known hymn, but he would sing a different version of it.
I understand that the catholic faith does not exactly embrace this hymn because of the words “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed,” and we as catholics believe that sanctifying grace is received into the soul at moment of baptism and not “the hour I first believed”
I personally don’t find it wrong or indeed anti catholic belief. I understand the words “in the hour I first believed” to mean at that moment when I personally understood the great gift which resides within me. I understand the gift given to me when my parents and Godparents took me to receive the sacrament of Baptism and what actually happened then, but for me that moment when that grace was planted into my soul I did not know. A child of some months doesn’t know what grace it received but at a time in the future either through an inspiration, a whispering by the spirit, an occasion of deep meditation I understood that this grace has been residing in me and what it means. Acknowledging the divine cleansing. I suspect that the term “my/the hour” (used 85 times in NT) in the hymn is similar to what Jesus said “my hour has not yet come” I see the “hour” in amazing grace, akin to when Jesus would become aware that “now” is the time (hour) had come to begin the work of redemption. He would know when the time for his immolation would begin. This is a hymn which is full of grace.
It was strange seeing this young man sing the hymn because he actually looked like Jesus, with parted hair, dark beard, young, I’d say 30is, and when he began singing and hit the first high notes the audience (a full stadium) were on their feet and I would have been too if I could type and stand!
As he continued singing Amazing Grace, at every end of line the name Jesus, tears began just rolling, he continued the singing, and cameras panned close up to the audience and a showed young humanity, smiling, singing, joyfully weeping with smiles on their glowing faces. Yes, I know it’s a contradiction in terms, but that’s how it was. And me? Well, I stood up at my desk in my office and did the same as the audience. Just amazed.
I wanted to share this because as I looked at 20,000 (figure given) and saw the joy, the tears, the singing, kneeling of some of the young, it felt like heaven and angels singing and praising. I know that we each have our own favored style of singing, but I’m someone who loves the spiritual music of the young, yet I also love traditional catholic hymns, ( e.g. Panis Angelicus, Schubert’s Ave Maria). My taste, one could say, is eclectic. Amazing Grace is generally sung in a meditative, tempered manner. However, today it was in a manner that the young, the youth and even some oldies like me and those in between really loved and which led to all manner of visible emotion. Arms raised up high, (someone I told this to and invited them see the video said that they wouldn’t be interested. Reason? Praying with raised arms.) What? Jesus prayed with arms raised towards his Father. Hands joined together in is more Eastern religion than Jewish. This style of hands raised palm up is praying to the Father in a stance of appeal and expectation. Kneeling young men deep in prayer like the Catholic youth, and others praying with hands joined. Couples singing, weeping, and smiling together. It was so emotional that it brought the “house down” and still after I watched and rewatched for four times and still felt the same. It has been one of those times when heaven touches whole groups of people and Jesus joins in. Only his presence could evoke such a response and such visible, open joyful praise.
I actually experienced a similar response the first time I heard the song “The Blessing” based on Numbers 6: 24-26 “May the Lord Bless you and Keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Amen. Amen Amen Amen Amen, and repeat the Amen so many times and every verse was composed of Amen. The young singers with the modern voice and Andrea Bocelli’s tenor voice, ending the last Amen with the highest long note. There was not much which could be said, just awe. Though I do have to admit that as I sat watching, I wished that this song could be sung globally all at the same time in every corner of the world each in their own language. “Amen,” (so be it-It is finished) the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen,Amen. It needs to be seen to be understood and note the beauty we have amongst us and either do not know or if we do know then we allow it to pass by without it touching us. I believe moments like these and these gatherings are the “ten righteous people” which Abraham negotiated with Yahweh in order to spare the city, and Yahweh responded with an agreement to spare the city for the sake of ten righteous people (Gen.18:32). Amazing “Amen”
At this point I am reminded of the most recent moments of heavenly singing and blessings as we watched our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV during his pastoral visit to Madrid and the over 1,200,000 souls wanting to see their spiritual father and their nonstop singing. These days of rage (wars and killing) these moments of such grace is what keeps us still hoping.
A time when the faith is so challenged and a time of true martyrs we need to hear the Amazing Grace and the glorious Amen. If it’s true that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church” (Tertullian), then perhaps the martyrdom, is to reverse the so called attack by the demonic who imposes a “martyrdom” of hatred of fellow human beings. Perhaps in the midst of this pain and suffering we are also given moments when we are shown what love, peace, forgiveness, is like, (Amazing Grace and Amen)and also what hatred is like. We have an opportunity to see or not to see the possibilities of love and anti-love, hatred, and maybe even the cure for these. love, joy, Jesus, for such times. Amazing Grace, Hallelujah, Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus, Amen. God the Father and creator has chosen to give us freedom even at a great cost of the death of his son Jesus, and the freedom is what choice do we make. Slaughter or amazing grace which was His son Jesus> So be it Father. Truly, Amen.
I say this because surrounding my parish there are always groups of young who look for old, and dirty, and under the influence of substances, and hungry and sleeping in corners, shades, any shelter, and I ask why? I say this because everywhere I’ve been to (38 different countries) over 30 years of my work, (healing of Post Abortion Grief, and sexual abuse grief) there is the same abandonment of life and when I hear that someone has become multi billionaire, multi-millionaire, the need to go to other planets, I wonder why can’t we first help and heal our own planet and its people before looking for those riches Jesus was tempted with. . Heal life in its ragged clothing ,the hungry, self-induced pain, desire for self-destruction, wanton self-abuse, abandonment by our human brothers and sisters. The first commandment is not being fulfilled by going to other planets for self-aggrandizement only but love. “Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and heart, and the second is like it- love your neighbor.” If we love God who loves us then we love our neighbor who is also created and loved by God (Mt 22:39). I’m reminded of when Jesus was shown all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and promised to be given all the riches in return for worship of him, lucifer. Jesus saw all the riches but he also saw those who abused the riches and those who rummaged bins for food. Much is asked from those to whom much is given.
The Great Amen of God, Jesus, wanders hungry, cold, dirty, and there is a shutting of the eyes to the bleeding of our common home. Grace is so amazing, but it needs to be invoked, to be desired to be seen and sung as praise for all given. Grace, Amen, love, empathy.
Daily through our news services we hear and see of children as young as 10-11 years of age committing atrocious crimes. What happened to their young life to arrive at such a stage? And at such an age and as a counsellour I wonder, has early life been so cruel? Why so much rage in them? lack of impulse control, conduct disorder, no empathy, for his friend, no social skills, lack of love. What causes this? Over parenting or lack of real parenting, abandonment, and added to this drug culture, social media, and so forth. and what happens to these young ones? they become the underage criminals, growing to adult criminals who have lost hope. Street sleepers, begging, hopeless?
Is abandonment by parents who chase after own so called dreams leaving care and training to others? Is this the abandonment in the future which Jesus saw in the vision together with the riches promised, and felt? In that state of darkness on the cross (sin he was made for us) he cried out. Is the behaviours of the young also the crying out? “My mother, my father, where are you?” Are the damages the children cause to themselves, neighbours, friends and society a cry to “please see me. Hear me. Be with me. Help me know what and how to do it. Put boundaries so I know what is right and what is wrong.” Is the rebellion by younger and younger children, into youth hood, into young man/women and forward, a cry for someone to take care of them? Help them know how to self-modulate followed by youth who want to be listened to by parents or trusted adult, followed by young people who haven’t been helped and have descended into lost world of hopelessness? Street sleepers( fetal position,)cold, hungry. And then the need to go to other planets. Squander millions on selfishness. I wish that I didn’t think so much but that would be “head in the sand for me”
The assault against innocence has been many pronged. From the destabilization of the family and the dehumanization of the human being to acceptance of past taboos, (abortions, euthanasia, IVF, all manner of attacks against life) to open rebellion against all forms of morality has been unrelenting. The change in family structure and voice of authority (parents) when growing and moving through life. Support for anti-family and life thought achieved under the guise of new freedoms and the young have been targeted as the medium to bring about the desired changes. Those who are most vulnerable. The children. And yet there is a longing for them to be heard and nothing else.
Why did I start with such joy and come to this? Because we are all born with God’s beautiful Amen. and we can see glimpses of this every moment of every day. Jesus not only really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament but in the breath of every creation and new creation. We have the Amazing Grace which Elias Grace sang about. The Amen . We’ve got “Mother Mary” and the knowledge that every womb is blessed because life is conceived there. We’ve got all beauty of creation. Still some unseen and we, like “Adam and Eve” seek listen to the other voice.
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace….Amen
