Scala Foundation

Just finished a 2-hour recorded interview with Tammy Peterson. I heard more of her story of prayer and courage, and we discussed my teaching and writing on Mary, and my journey from psychology and sociology into theology. It should be released in August. Stay tuned for more info!

Why does Sir James MacMillan--one of today's most famous composers--say that beautiful music is meant to prepare us to find God in silence and suffering?

In just a few days, I'll be interviewing MacMillan as part of Scala's efforts to renew culture by training young musicians through the Catholic Sacred Music Project. Don't miss our public discussion and concert with MacMillan on Sat. June 15 at 11 at the Princeton Theological Seminary, where I will ask him questions such as:

Why do most secular or agnostic people say that music (folk, classical, or sacred) is a spiritual experience?

How has Sir James MacMillan's music, with its deep spiritual resonance, influenced collective worship and personal faith?

How has his devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, and the principle of lex orandi, lex credendi (how we worship is what we believe) influenced his compositions for sacred music such as the Stabat Mater--Mary's powerful lament of suffering?

Behold, I Make All Things New: A Discussion and Concert of New Sacred Music Behold, I Make All Things New: A Discussion on Sacred Music and Popular Culture and a Concert of New Sacred Music by Living Composers

On March 25, we remember the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked her to cooperate with the divine plan. Today, I'm inviting you to say "yes" to Scala's Fellowship of the Annunciation, people who commit to recurring donations (monthly, quarterly, or yearly).

By supporting Scala today with a recurring donation, you will join our global network of friends who are renewing great traditions in art and supporting a renaissance in education and culture.

With your support, we can continue to fund artists training at the Chichester Workshop of Liturgical Arts. Scala is committed to supporting young composers and choral conductors coming to Princeton in the summer of 2024 to one of the great programs run by the Catholic Sacred Music Project.

Our public event earlier this month, the Sarum Vespers, was attended by 1,000 live and seen by 15,000 online. As one young woman who attended the Sarum Vespers said, "Being surrounded by astounding music, architecture, and works of art brings such wonder; you can’t help but feel inspired and joyful.”

We need to double Scala's monthly support to support young culture creators who bring light to a culture in darkness. Will you say yes to supporting an artistic feeding of thousands?

Support a Cultural Renaissance! Your donation allows Scala to further its mission of cultural renewal by supporting apprenticeships with master liturgical artists Aidan Hart, Martin Earle and Jim Blackstone at the Chichester Workshop for Liturgical Art.

Tomorrow, Friday, March 1st starting at 6 pm in the Princeton University Chapel Scala Foundation is co-hosting a Sarum vespers along with a presentation on sacred art. If you can't come in person, we will record and share after.

By participating in beautiful worship, we can reverse what Josef Pieper calls the mentality of “total work,” whereby our worldly ambitions are cut off from our calling to affirm the goodness of creation.

True leisure is not a passive lack of activity. Happiness is not just "work hard, play hard." Worship is meant to form us so that as we work in the world, we retain a contemplative outlook, humbly remembering that in our work, we co-create with God. The beauty of art reminds us that some things are good in and of themselves.

We should never try to dominate ourselves or manipulate outcomes in the world. Sharing beautiful art, music, and architecture creates a bond of solidarity among the participants and forms the virtues needed so that all our work becomes co-creation with God.