A Song, A Saint, A Good Listen

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I’m 53 years old – so I don’t hear a lot of contemporary music. One may not be connected with the other but it feels that way. Nonetheless I recently stumbled across the music of a contemporary band called, “Joyful Sorrow.” They’re easy to listen to, and the songs seem largely focused on the lives of the saints. I was particularly struck by one on St. Xenia of Petersburg. The lyrics are these:

Joy and Delusional 

Hey you
Stupid and clumsy
Why don’t you say a word?
You’re so out of touch.

You’ve been gone for so long
And now you’re wearing your dead husband’s clothes
You’re such a disgrace.

Realizing all the empty joys
In this life
You took leave
Searching for freedom
What is freedom?
Freedom — Freedom

To have everything in nothing
To seek joy in all things
To offer yourself for others
To die to this life so
As not to die in the next

Hey you
Stupid and clumsy
Why don’t you say a word?
You’re so out of touch.

You’ve been gone for so long
and now you’re wearing your dead husband’s clothes
You’re such a disgrace.

You can listen here. joydelusional.mp3

You can read about the life of St. Xenia here

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About Fr. Stephen Freeman

Fr. Stephen is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, Pastor Emeritus of St. Anne Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He is also author of Everywhere Present and the Glory to God podcast series.



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Latest Comments

  1. Michael: Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll take a look.

  2. Michael, Of course. I’m describing a collective effect rather than an individual effect. Collectively, the decline of religion in affluent…

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  4. Michael, Kevin, Abortion is a good example of the law of unintended consequences. For years, conservative voters championed pro-life candidates,…

  5. Kevin, about 16 years ago politics hit home one Sunday in the Lutheran Church right across the street from my…


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