The charismatic nun simply shocked the judges and viewers with her performance on the Italian reality show “The Voice,” where she stunningly performed Alicia Keys’ song “No One.”
Sister Cristina, a 25-year-old Catholic minister from Sicily, performed on The Voice, the Italian equivalent of the popular American The Voice, stealing the audience's attention with her fiery rendition of the hit.
The four judges of the project could not help but be curious and almost immediately turned to the stage to look at the amazing creature with a beautiful voice.
When they realized who had such talent, the four judges opened her mouth in surprise. Meanwhile, the audience in the hall supported the energetic young sister with all their might.
After Christina finished singing, the jury members rushed to find out what was the reason why the clergywoman decided to take part in one of the most popular shows on the Apennine Peninsula. “How did you end up on the Voice project?” - asked Raffaella Carrà, to which the performer immediately received the answer: “I have a gift and I’m giving it to you.” Another jury member, famous rapper J-Ax in Italy, also could not stay away and comment on the girl’s performance.
“If I had seen you during mass, I would have started going to church all the time.”- he joked.
The next question the participant had to answer was: “What will people think about your performance on national television?” Sister Christina did not hide her hopes and simply answered: “I believe that he will call me.” Viewers of the TV channel were completely delighted with amazing girl, and some even expressed the opinion that her act brought the church significantly closer to the people. Maurizio Rossi was more reserved in his comments, but after filming he noted that Christina was the strongest of all the participants on the last day.
“I loved the song and she sang it just fine. It's 2014, why shouldn't a nun take part in such a competition? If she loves to sing, and if she feels great about it, it will only benefit her.”
Giovanni, the owner of a newsstand in Rome, also agreed with the judges and spectators, saying that the presence of a clergywoman on such a project was not at all absurd. Moreover, Giovanni added, Christina’s decision to sing on television once again showed that the Catholic Church is actually not so closed. “I think it’s wonderful,” said the young man. “This is a testament to the desire and closeness to the people.” Giuseppe Palozzi, an employee of a furniture store, could not help but support Giovanni. “I haven’t watched the show, but I know that a nun took part in it. It seems to me that this indicates that the Church is not as conservative as it used to be, perhaps this is the merit of Pope Francis."
Meanwhile, the social microblogging service Twitter literally exploded with hashtags filled with the tag #suorcristina (#sister Christina), instantly making the nun an Internet star. Thus, @stefyorlando did not fail to note in his post: “Sister Christina, I remember my mentor in spiritual education in high school, Sister Natalia, who was not as sweet as you.” Other users wondered whether the head of the Holy See had contacted the girl: “Does anyone know if @Pontifex_it () called Sister Christina?” - @PegasoNero asked.
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Friends, today we decided to tell you about the Italian “Voice”, or rather about its unusual winner. Sister Cristina Scuccia won The Voice 2014.
Today she already has two videos. One of them is a cover of Madonna's song "Like A Virgin". Sister Christina's video shows the majestic architecture of Italy very well.
In the second clip, Sister Christina Scuccia walks through the park among passers-by and sings “Blessed Be Your Name.”
But how did it all begin?
In the blind audition, Christina Scuccia sang "No One" by Alicia Keys. Yes, I sang it! The audience stood up almost immediately, the nun jumped around the stage and lit up as if she had been doing this all her life. There was not even a hint of embarrassment or feeling of discomfort. Sister Christina had a blast! And her support group, the other nuns, jumped for joy and squealed as the chairs turned around one after another.
In "Battles" 25-year-old Christina Scuccia sang with 23-year-old Luna Palumba "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper and again it was super hot!
In "Knockouts" Christina Scuccia performed "Hero" by Mariah Carey. She sang second, so you can also appreciate the number of the first participant, whom Sister Christina defeated:
Next, live broadcasts began on the Italian “Voice 2014”. Christina Scuccia sang “Can’t Get You out of My Head” with Kylie Minogue, and sister Christina’s colleagues from “The Voice” also took part in the performance. Pay attention also to the mentors of the Italian “Voice” - they are much more extravagant than ours.
Next came the turn of solo numbers and Christina Scuccia sang “What a Filling” by Irene Cara (who, in turn, received a Grammy for this song). The strict canonical beginning turned into a cheerful disco. This is all Italian))
Sister Cristina Scuccia sang the song in Italian for the first time "Uno su mille" (One in a thousand), so it's not just us a large number of English songs. This happens everywhere.
Sister Christina Scuccia sang famous hit Jon Bon Jovi "Livin" on a prayer". And so Sister Christina wore a long monastic robe with a crucifix around her neck all the time on the project; the musicians on stage looked very contrasting in comparison with her.
Sister Christina continued to amaze: during the song "(I"ve Had) The Time of My Life" there were also 4 pairs of dancers with props on stage, and it turns out that all this and the nun can look quite normal in one number.
In the finale, sister Christina Scuccia sang the song “Beautiful That Way” on “The Voice 2014”, and behind her there was a whole performance led by her mentor J-Ax
Sister Christina sang “Gli anni” with her rapper-mentor, gaining 53% of the audience votes
Finally, Sister Christina Scuccia once again lit up the hall, this time with the song "Lungo La Riva"
Some may say that Europe is losing its morality and spirituality, that clergy should not behave this way. Someone will say that monks are people too and can enjoy life like everyone else, including when they sing on stage. But in any case, this is a given that has already happened. Cheerful, perky sister Cristina Scuccia won “The Voice of Italy 2014”. These are the nuns in Italy. Moreover, this opinion can be formed not only on her, but also on her no less perky support group. Our hieromonk Photius, compared to the Italians, is modesty itself.
Imagine: another season of another talent show has ended. Confetti, fanfare, congratulations, hugs. It would seem that there is little to surprise here. And suddenly the winner reads in live The Lord's Prayer. Our Father? On TV? “Impossible,” you say. Is it possible that similar show did the nun win? Hardly? It turned out that it was possible.
Meet me. This is Sister Christina Scuccia. Suor Cristina. Catholic nun. Belongs to the Ursuline Congregation - Order of St. Ursula. She is 25 years old. She was born in Sicily, but now lives with her sisters in the order in Milan. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a professional singer. In her youth she even sang in a rock band.
She didn’t believe in God and had a bad attitude towards the Church. And suddenly her mother almost forcibly sends her to the Ursuline sisters who care for children and youth in their parish. Why? The sisters are putting on a musical! Christina reluctantly auditions for main role- founder of the Order of St. Angela Merici (1474–1540). Talent takes its toll, and the role goes to the 19-year-old rebel.
But something suddenly changes inside the girl. What exactly, we don't know. But a year later she entered the novitiate, and then went to Brazil for two years to help poor children. Upon his return he takes his first vows. But in her order they remember where God found Christina - in music. In 2013, a girl who is not very confident in herself is sent to a Christian song competition as part of the Good News festival.
Her “drive” and joyful spontaneity bring her success - not in last time. The Mother Superior persuades her to take part in the Italian version of the show The Voice, known in Russia as "The Voice". Not the most typical mission, but the abbess apparently has a good understanding of voices - at least she discerned God’s voice and His will very accurately.
March 19, 2014. The so-called " blind audition"when the jury hears the voice, but does not see the candidate. The song “No One” by Alicia Keys starts. A vocalist unknown to the jury begins to sing and at the same time bursts into applause. auditorium, which is accessible to perception not only of the singer’s voice, but also of her appearance: simple robes of a nun – black dress, hair is tucked under a cover, glasses are on his nose, and a cross is on his chest. The famous Italian performers sitting on the jury do not yet know who they are dealing with, but the voice convinces them one by one.
The first to press the button and turn was Alessandro Aleotti, a rapper who performs under the name J-Ax. Following him are the rest of the jury. Those who saw this recording of Sister Christina’s performance (and there are already more than 52 million people on YouTube alone) will probably never forget the facial expressions of the jury members.
They couldn’t believe their eyes: the “crazy energy” and “incredible voice”, it turns out, belong to this little girl in black. A girl whom even the seasoned world of show business perceives as a freak. After all, show business in any country is not entirely in harmony with official religion, and even more so in such a “traditionally Christian” country as Italy, where, thanks to the varied and sometimes difficult history of relations between the “majority church” and society, being young and religious, successfully engaging in a secular profession and being actively religious does not seem to everyone possible and compatible...
One of the jury members asked the freak girl: “Are you really a nun?” She had to reassure the jury that she was real and not just dressed up for the show. But then a reasonable question arises: “What brought you to The Voice?” Sister Christina's answer was simple: “I have a gift, and I give it to [you]. How else?"
J-Ax's first reaction, even during her performance, was laughter mixed with amazement: this cannot be! But soon tears began to well up in the eyes of this adult, self-confident man with many tattoos, sitting in a headdress in a room with many tattoos, a man whom nothing seemed to upset his balance, and he had to practically hide from the camera...
One can only guess what exactly was going on in J-Ax’s thoughts, what pictures his memory was giving him, but something tells me that the sight and voice of sister Christina became the healing of some wounds for him... As he himself said at that time moment, “if I had met you at Mass in my childhood, I would now be the Pope, or at least attend all the services.” Her answer? "You've met me now!"
When it was his turn to persuade his sister Christina to choose him as a coach, J-Ax said: “The music perfectly combines salty and sweet, tenderness and strength. You and I will be invincible! Why? Because we are like the devil and holy water! And even more providential was the decision that Sister Christina made in advance - to join the team of the one who would be the first to press the button. So her mission affected at least one person...
In subsequent interviews, Sister Christina confessed: “Jesus called me. If I left this call and gift only for myself, then it would be worthless.” According to her, she is driven by “a thirst for joy, a thirst for love, a beautiful and pure message.”
What would the Pope say?
"Don't know. I'm waiting for a phone call from Pope Francis, of course. He calls us to go “outside,” to spread the Gospel, to remind us that God does not take anything from us, but only gives even more.” “Pope Francis talks about the Bible of joy. And I think I’m on the right track.”
And indeed, it is no coincidence that the success of the singing nun came precisely during the pontificate of the Pope, who calls on the Church to be closer to people. However, there is no need to assume what they think about Sister Christina in the Vatican. The answer is known. After the nun's first speech, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, sent the following tweet online: “Serve one another, each of you according to the gift that you have received (1 Peter 4:10),” tagging it with the hashtag #suorcristina.
A few weeks later, the cardinal dedicated another tweet to Sister Christina, this time with a quote from the 6th-century Roman writer Cassiodorus: “If we persist in injustice, God will leave us without music.”
In the following weeks, Sister Christina had many rehearsals and performances as part of next stages show. Songs she has performed include “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper and “Time of My Life” from the movie “Dirty Dancing.” She had a chance to sing with Kylie Minogue and Ricky Martin. The performer of the song with which sister Christina appeared in the project, Alicia Keys, described her performance as “pure energy.”
Among other things, the famous American actress Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in the 1990s comedies Sister Act and Sister Act 2, played the role of a singer who had to pretend to be a nun to escape the mafia.
Why with words of encouragement? Because like any bright phenomenon, Sister Christina gained not only fans, but also many critics. And from all sides. Traditionalist Catholics accused her of profanation of monasticism and recalled the first psalm.
In turn, representatives of the world of show business called her performances a profanation of the musical profession and associated her success solely with the novelty and originality of the situation, denying her talent.
And partly with music critics we can agree: we can say that Sister Christina’s voice is not a phenomenon on a global scale. And that the attention paid to this story was very beneficial to the producers of the show. But nevertheless, Sister Christina is not just a voice. This is a complete image. Yes, vocally speaking, the show featured stronger vocalists. But the nun’s very personality, along with her gift, won a place in the hearts of the public. And the fact that she would reach the finals, and perhaps even win the competition, was almost obvious to many.
And here's the finale. The hall is electric. A lot of people are rooting for Sister Christina. Some of them are wearing T-shirts with a portrait of a nun, stylized after Shepard Fairey's famous "Hope" poster of Barack Obama. In the finale, Sister Christina performed four songs, the last of which was “Beautiful That Way” from the 1997 film Life is Beautiful, a film about a father (played by Robert Benigni) and son trapped in a concentration camp, and about the victory of the spirit over circumstances - no matter what. they were not tragic or catastrophic.
And here is the victory. Sister Christina won with a score of 62%. A modest, almost awkward smile. Thumbs up. And the confession: “ Last words gratitude, the most important – of course, to the One in the sky.” And then another surprise: “I have a dream - to read the Lord’s Prayer to everyone together.”
Maybe we can join hands and pray. I want Jesus to come right here!”
Atheist J-Ax warned that he and another “bad guy” of the jury members, Piero Pilu, would now flare up and burn from such “sacred rites.” The presenter tried to remind her that the broadcast time had come to an end. But this girl with glasses and a cross could not be stopped. The Lord's Prayer was heard in prime time on Italian television, and at the end of an entertainment show.
What's next? The usual winner of the competition would have received a contract with the world's leading label, Universal. Will Sister Christina take advantage of this chance (there was a proposal to record an album and use the money from sales for charitable purposes) - she still has not given an answer to this question.
But she knows for sure that she is going home to the monastery: “I am returning to what is important to me: to prayer, to getting up early, to working at school. For me this is the basis, without this I will not be able to start something new in the future.” As the nun herself said, she leaves the decision about whether a career in show business is appropriate for a nun to her mentors and those responsible for the order. “I will be glad to just return to singing with children in parishes”...
In general, one can already imagine that a film will appear based on this story. With a happy ending, the outlines of the future scenario are already clear. Well, let. In the end, show business also needs to process the shock that happened to it - this is a unique, in principle inimitable phenomenon, this break in its patterns, this “Black Square” of Malevich from pop music. The traumatic experience of being outplayed according to his own rules and done so in a way that made him happy and pleased - and therefore awkward... Show business will reflect and record what happened in its own way, as best it can. But it is important for us, believers, to think: what does this story give us?
I think this is a great lesson and example. A lesson in what mission can be in the 21st century. It turned out that for the enormous success of the mission, all that was needed was a person with a gift from God and the ability to use modern communications, the ability to talk to the world in its language, the ability to find these opportunities and the willingness to use them. This is enough to convey – both to an individual (what is J-Ax like now?) and to the whole society – a very simple “message”: it’s possible! You can be yourself, rejoice and bring joy to others, take risks, develop, live life to the fullest, being with God and with God (read: in the Church).
The efforts of the 25-year-old nun were worth the efforts of dozens of ordinary “missionaries” (those in quotes). She did - at least for the Church in Italy and Italian society - a huge thing. Made a bridge. Removed the “either/or” discourse. Thank God that there were people so transparent to His action (“We carry this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the exceeding power may be attributed to God and not to us,” 2 Cor 4:7).
I think this lesson is important for each of us to learn - after all, to some extent we are all missionaries - it is clear that I am not literally talking about verbal preaching to all nations. We all give testimony to the world around us. How “transparent” are we to God? How obedient are we to His voice? How willing are we to serve Him with everything we have? Or in another way: to what extent, doing what we know how to do and love, are we ready to live in gratitude to Him? These are the questions Sister Cristina Scuccia, a 25-year-old Catholic nun from Italy, asked me.
And finally, I’ll give you one more statement from Cardinal Gianfranco Ravvasi’s Twitter. The day after Sister Christina won the show The Voice of Italy he quoted Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav (1772–1810), the founder of Bratslav (Breslov) Hasidism, who wrote extensively about a close relationship with God and the ability to talk to Him directly as a close friend: “Even if you can’t sing well, sing. Sing to yourself. Sing in the privacy of your home. But sing!”
Because “how else?”