An Appeal for Mercy at the Heart of our Faith

When Johann Sebastian Bach sought to convey the heart of Christian truth through music, he chose the Mass as his foundation. His B Minor Mass begins with a heartfelt plea from the full chorus and orchestra, “Kyrie Eleison” – “Lord, have mercy.” In the intricate fugue that follows, each voice and instrument takes up this singular theme independently; no other words are sung, only “Kyrie Eleison.”

Those who have heard it cannot doubt that this universal plea for mercy brings us to the very essence of faith. This appeal for…