The 1,7 million euro Sunday in Regensburg

We were told earlier in the week how special the music in the cathedral in Regensburg is. A famous choir performs regularly there. So, eager for good music, we set out to attend the service in the beautiful old church.

The church is packed. It is a busy meeting with many tourists who attend. They even attend with their bags and leave whenever they want to. Clearly people long for such a setting, they respect the ambience of this famous place, admire its beauty and is inspired by its spirituality.

The organ is special and the music inspiring. The professor of music at the University is the organist and he is clearly a gifted person.

After the service he speaks about the new organ which is being built and for which the church is asking donations to cover the costs (1,7 million euros).

1,7 million euros. For an organ.

Afterwards we head home. We are not in a hurry. We stop at a little restaurant where we buy an Apfeltorte for our Sunday morning tea back home. Then we cycle through the old city – it is a world heritage site.

It is a leisurely trip, beautiful to experience.

But I keep on thinking about the 1,7 million euros.

Relaxed and at peace, we follow our noses. And, as is to be expected, we are soon lost. At a stage we have to trace our steps. We cycle on the sidewalk on the wrong side of the road. From the front a German lady approaches. When she sees us, she calls out that the police have just stopped a group of people who were cycling on that sidewalk. And indeed, we see the group as they stand and wait for their fine to be written out. Thankful for the warning, we jump from our bicycles. I can imagine in this land of law and order that a hefty fine will cut deeply into our budget.

But I keep on thinking about the 1,7 million euros. Spent on an organ in a church.

Whilst milions of people go hungry or die of diseases because of poverty.

But can one deny a first world church the beauty of wonderful organ music? I think of my inspiring visits to the cathedral in Zurich with its amazing Chagall windows. Is it not art which opens our eyes for the deeper values? Is it not the impressive work of Da Vinci (Madonna and child!), Michelangelo, Rembrandt and so many others, paid for by the wealthy, which brings people to understand what humanity is all about?

But 1,7 million euros?

For an organ in a church?

In our times?

Is this where the church wants to be?

And can we point a finger to the church? When we climb into our SVU’s and our aeroplance for our summer holiday vacations in the Caribbean? Whilst millions of people die of hunger?

And I know the German churches are among the most liberal donors to special causes worldwide.


Maybe, I think, this can still be done today when a church that spends 1,7 million euros on an organ at least raises the same amount to alleviate poverty.


And yet, after I have read the mystics for some time now, I wonder.