"ANDREA BOCELLI'S BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONY OF LIFE" - John Stonestreet with Roberta Rivera, Breakpoint.org, 12/7/20; https://breakpoint.org/andrea-bocellis-beautiful-testimony-of-life [AS I SEE IT;What a great reminder that one disability can be overridden by God with other gifts. Also, who is to say what God can do with any LIFE, no matter how limited. Christmas celebraters the eternal blessings of one woman choosing life for her child at a most difficult time! -Stan]
Sixty-two years ago, a young Italian woman named Edi Bocelli, pregnant with her first child, was hospitalized with appendicitis. Her doctors advised her to abort the child because, they said, “the baby would be born with some disability.” A devout Catholic, Edi Bocelli refused, but the doctors’ prognosis was correct. Her son Andrea was born with congenital glaucoma and was completely blind by age 12.
Despite being unable to see, Andrea was born with other gifts. One, in particular, stands out. His voice has been called “the most beautiful in the world.” According to Celine Dion, “if God would have a singing voice, he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli.” In fact, Bocelli’s albums have sold over 90 million copies. His 1999 album “Sacred Arias,” is the biggest selling album by a solo classical artist in history, and his 1996 single, Con te partirò (“With You I Shall Leave”) is one of the biggest selling singles of all time, putting him on a list that includes Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, and Adele. Bocelli has sung for presidents, prime ministers, and popes. He was even named one of the world’s “Fifty Most Beautiful People” by People Magazine.
In 2010, Bocelli told his mother’s story in a video entitled “Andrea Bocelli—His Unknown Story That Touches Hearts.” Sitting at the piano, after describing his mother’s decision to not abort him, he adds, “Maybe I'm partisan, but I can say that it was the right choice.”
Bocelli told an Italian newspaper that he was inspired to share his story by a missionary in Haiti who works with children and women facing difficult pregnancies. “Because of my personal convictions as a devout Catholic,” said Bocelli, “I am not only fighting against something, I am fighting for something - and I am for life.”
The video went viral. Bocelli said he hopes it will “help comfort those who are in difficult situations and who sometimes just need to feel that they are not alone.” In this way, Bocelli’s story is reminiscent of the important work of pregnancy care centers, which also exist to remind women facing a difficult pregnancy that they are not alone. The comfort and support they provide helps women choose life, just as Bocelli’s mother did.
Especially at this time of year, Bocelli’s story reminds us of the part a challenging pregnancy played in the story of our redemption. It’s easy for us to forget that God gave Mary the option to say “no.” Her reply, “may it be done according to thy will,” are similar to the words that Edi Bocelli and countless other women have echoed throughout the ages.
And here’s just a small sample of “the most beautiful voice in the world," Andrea Bocelli singing, “Glory to You, Christ Jesus, you will reign today and forever. Glory to you, you who will soon come!”
Glory to you, Christ Jesus,
you will reign today and for ever
Glory to you! You will soon come;
you alone are our hope!
The Colson Center team has prepared a free downloadable and beautifully illustrated e-book, “Emmanuel! Readings for Advent.” It’s available at BreakPoint.org.
And, by the way, Andrea Bocelli is holding a Christmas concert, to be streamed online around the world, on December 12. It’s available on pay-per view. We’ll link you to that as well at BreakPoint.org
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES:
"Get Your Copy of 'Emmanuel - Readings for Advent.'" - Colson Center | 2020; https://landing.breakpoint.org/advent
"'Andrea Bocelli - Believe in Christmas Live from Italy'" -Ticketmaster | 2020; https://shops.ticketmasterpartners.com/andrea-bocelli-livestream
"'Andrea Bocelli - His Unknown Story that Touches Hearts'" - Pietro Schito | YouTube | June 1, 2010; https://www.youtube.com/watch
"'Andrea Bocelli clarifies that his message is pro-life, not merely anti-abortion'" - Catholic News Agency | June 20, 2010; https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/andrea-bocelli-clarifies-that-his-message-is-pro-life-not-merely-anti-abortion
"'Gloria a te, Cristo Gesu - Andrea Bocelli'" - Uidisseus | YouTube | November 21, 2010; https://www.youtube.com/watch
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against
the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth"Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer."- Stan----------------------------------------------------------------------
World-Wide Praises:
PRAISE GOD for the continuing successes against ISIS !PRAISE GOD for the contining successes of the Trump Admin. to establish peace in the ME!
------------------------------------------------------------
Children are not exempt from persecution. Throughout the world, children of Christian parents suffer persecution. When a parent is imprisoned, attacked or forced to leave their home because of their faith, their children are deeply affected. This month, pray with us for the smallest victims of persecution.
December 9 - In Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Myanmar, Buddhist extremists target children/youth in schools, forcing them to participate in rituals and learn Buddhist teachings. Pray no weapon formed against these kids will prevail (Isa. 54:17).
*Representative name or photo used to protect identity
the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth
PRAISE GOD for the continuing successes against
Children are not exempt from persecution. Throughout the world, children of Christian parents suffer persecution. When a parent is imprisoned, attacked or forced to leave their home because of their faith, their children are deeply affected. This month, pray with us for the smallest victims of persecution.
December 9 - In Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Myanmar, Buddhist extremists target children/youth in schools, forcing them to participate in rituals and learn Buddhist teachings. Pray no weapon formed against these kids will prevail (Isa. 54:17).
*Representative name or photo used to protect identity
No comments:
Post a Comment