12/26/2025
Some time ago, Merri Ann and I went to Salt Lake City to see a Christmas presentation featuring music from Frideric Handel's Messiah. The choir, the soloists, and the orchestra combined for a magnificently beautiful tribute to Jesus Christ.
But the story behind the music is fascinating.
Handel wrote The Messiah in difficult economic times and when he was personally deeply in debt. It was an age of debtors' prisons where men were torn from their families and cast into prison when they couldn't pay their bills. Without a breadwinner, these families were often destitute, turning to begging or giving away their children to survive.
When Handel finished The Messiah, instead of enriching himself, he organized a charity performance in Ireland with the proceeds used to pay debts and free prisoners. The performance was so successful that over 140 prisoners were freed and returned to their families.
Later, Handel organized additional performances to fund a hospital dedicated to caring for u***d mothers and their children.
We applaud George Frideric Handel.
May we all have that same generous spirit throughout the year and the feeling of peace that Handel must have felt.
Sincerely,
All of us at The Prepared Pantry
