The ‘music and mystical’ cycle of the Church of the Christ of the Olivar de Madrid returns with “Reflexes of Hope”

(Dominicans) .- The Church of the Cristo del Olivar host one more year the Music and mystical cyclean initiative of the Dominican Frailes community that joins spirituality and music in a contemplative experience. Under the title “Reflexes of hope”this VIII cycle is part of the Jubileo de la Esperanza 2025 Convened by the Church, offering five concerts between January and May.

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The first concert will take place Friday, January 31 at 8:30 p.m.with the performance of the choral group Mageritrecognized for its quality and trajectory. The following concerts will be held the days: February 21, March 21, April 25 and May 30.

A temple with musical tradition

The Church of the Christ of Olivar is known in Madrid as a space open to choral music. As explained Fr. Vicente Niño Opthe concerts began more than fifteen years ago, when the previous pastor, Fr. Carlos Robles Opspontaneously welcomed a choir that was looking for a place to sing. Since then, “the voice was ran that we were a cozy church,” he recalls.

In addition to its disposition, the temple has a Excellent acousticswhich was even studied by the Autonomous University of Madrid in 2023. Currently, the Christ of the Olivar is a reference point for sacral music in the city, with weekly concerts and greater activity in liturgical times such as Christmas and Easter.

Dominicans and culture

Music and mystical He was born in 2016, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Order of Preachers. Since then, its objective has been Link music with spiritualityresponding to the “Dominican tradition of culture and dialogue care with all the best of our world”, and providing an experience that helps attendees to enter into the contemplation and search for God’s face. “It is not only to open the church for concerts, but each musical piece is accompanied by a spiritual reflection,” says Fr. Vicente Niño op.

For this edition, the friars have wanted to join the Jubileo de la Esperanzaproposing a cycle that invites reflection on the Hope as theological virtue. “Each concert is a reflection of the authentic hope, which is born from knowing us by God, who does not abandon us in the dark,” he explains.

Texts and voices for a prayer experience

The spiritual reflections that accompany the music come from various sources: the daily readings of the friars, classic and contemporary texts, magisterium documents and references to the jubilee. “We seek to be suggestive texts, that help prayer and introspection,” says Fr. Vicente.

The readings will be made by different members of the parish community and the Dominican family of Madrid, including friars and laity. «It’s not about doing a vocal virtuosity exercise, but about giving voice to An experience of faith», Underline.

A church open to the cultural reality of the neighborhood

This year, the organization of the cycle has fallen throughout the convent community, with the coordination of the new pastor, Fr. Javier Garzón Op. After the march of Fr. Xabier Gómez Op To his new episcopal mission in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, the friars have assumed the challenge of continuing to offer this event already consolidated.

Beyond the concert cycle, the Christ of the Olivar maintains a Evangelizing mission which covers theological formation, liturgy, service to the most needy and dialogue with art and culture. «We want to be A cozy church And open to the cultural reality of our neighborhood, ”concludes the organizers.