Beethoven’s faith, Catholicism, has aroused the wonder of many. There is much to be pondered about this great composer’s spiritual side.
Newsroom (03/07/2022 8:30 PM, Gaudium Press) Beethoven’s Catholic faith is the subject of an article published on the news portal ReligionEnLibertad: “The great unknown about Beethoven: he was born and died a Catholic, but what happened in the meantime?” by Michael de Sapio, written initially in Crisis Magazine
Beethoven, who with Bach and Mozart make up the most recognized trilogy in classical music, was baptized a Catholic and received a Catholic education. And at the end of his life, he received the specific sacrament of the Church that prepares for the encounter with God. The question asks the columnist, is what happened between the beginning and the end in terms of Catholic faith and practice in the famous composer.
Although Beethoven is portrayed as a secularist or mere deist, “Beethoven’s letters and notebooks testify to his strong belief in a personal God.”
Compositions with not only a deist flavor, but also with a Christian aroma
In his compositions, “he used to write religious notes and titles”: “Full of gratitude to the Almighty after the storm”, “Holy song of gratitude of a convalescent to the Divinity”... He has some texts in choral pieces where he suggests the deism of the Enlightenment, as in the famous Ninth Symphony, but he also has works where the Catholic tradition is very present.
He wrote the oratorio “Christ on the Mount of Olives”, where the composer focuses on the Agony in the Garden. Then came the Mass in C major, which some describe as “splendorous.” His oratorio The Triumph of the Cross, which was commissioned, never came to fruition. Nor did he ever compose another Mass that he had planned.
But the German composer’s most praised religious work is the Missa Solemnis, which to the surprise of many, he himself described as “the coronation of my professional life,” written for the enthronement of Rodolf of Austria, Beethoven’s great friend, at his seat as Archbishop of Olomouc.
Despite being considered an avant-garde author for his time, Beethoven never ceased to be fascinated by ancient religious music: “In the ancient forms of the Church, devotion is divine… and [may] God someday permit me to express it,” he said. In his Missa Solemnis he wanted the flutes to resemble the beating of birds’ wings representing the Paraclete, the violins to suggest the presence of Jesus on the altar, the organ to speak of the Eucharistic rite.
A Life Long Journey in the Faith
Apparently, Beethoven’s mother was a devout person. The composer began his musical life playing the organ at morning masses in Bonn.
In his personal moral life, he is described as a puritan. It is also clear that he was not a devout Catholic, nor a frequenter of the sacraments, although it is stated that “when he became tutor to his nephew Karl, he made a point of regularly receiving the sacraments.”
It is also believed that in the middle of his life he became interested in Eastern religions, and quotes religious texts of this kind in his notebooks.
It was said above that he died with the sacraments. But the initiative to receive them came not from him, but from his doctor, who got a priest to administer the Anointing of the Sick to him. The half-dead musician recognized the priest, “Thank you, sir! You have brought me comfort!” The priest allowed a Catholic burial and offered a requiem mass, indicating that he believed Beethoven had died a Christian.
A spirit, therefore, that was rather buoyant in terms of faith. May God have had mercy on his soul.
