Ilustrations of Catholic ceremonies don't seem compatible with Wagner's Parsifal. People might be surprised, but the "religion" in Parsifal isn't really Christianity. Devotion to the Holy Grail isn't part of mainstream Christianity (to the best of my knowledge). The Grail Knights receive communion in the first act, but there is no mass. Towards the end one hears "the redeemer is redeemed" which puzzled me until I realized that Parsifal is quite different philosophically than Christianity.
True enough - Wagner's conception of Christianity (at least as evidenced by his operas) was entirely personal and eclectic. I chose the images for their own merit, and to perhaps lift the music to an even higher level...
@@monscarmeli Thanks for your clarification, and thank you for this beautiful video. I wanted to add that the photos enhance the music in the video, despite my previous comment.
Christianity recognizes God in Three Persons but makes the Second Person central. Parsifal inhabits Christian forms but Christ is never mentioned by name even once the entire drama. The Third Person as Holy Light, symbolized by the Grail, and by music as Light - Wagner was touched by that pure Light as was St Paul on the Road to Damascus. This is decidedly not Catholicism.
@Don Carter That's a rather shallow way to view one of the traits that makes us truly human, one which characterizes every culture to ever exist: the need to commune with the eternal. But it's ok, I know where you're coming from, I used to come from there too. I never believed in any personal deity, even as a young child. When I was like four my family brought me to church and while the whole congregation was in the middle of a prayer and the chapel was quiet except for the pastor leading the prayer, I looked around at all the adults with their heads bowed, speaking to what I saw as their imaginary friend in the sky, and I shouted "What are these idiots doing?" Needless to say, my parents were mortified, and they never brought me back to another church service. They were atheists anyways, they just wanted to be involved with the community. My grandma wanted me to go to Sunday school though, so I did, but I always thought it was silly. I can't really explain why I changed my mind in a short comment, it's a long story and I don't want to bore you.
My great grandfather Thomas Walsh volunteered for the Confederates in his adopted state of Louisiana, as Loftis, his grandfather in Enniscorthy, had volunteered in 1798.
@@monscarmeli I made a comment stating my opinion regarding juxtaposing Parsifal with Catholicism. However, I love the video and appreciate your creating and posting it!
Lovely music, of course. But totally wrong visuals. Whoever thinks Catholic rituals represent this piece in any way knows nothing about Parsifal or Wagner.
@@monscarmeli I'd have to say, rather than "transcendent," the correct term would be "irrelevant." Whatever Parsifal may be, it's not an ad for Catholicism.
