The Gospel message in Les Miserables : The priest's song

The first priest's song to Jean Valjean is symbolic of the invitation of Christ through the church to a weary world:
"Come in, Sir, for you are weary,
And the night is cold out there.
Though our lives are very humble
What we have, we have to share.
There is wine here to revive you.
There is bread to make you strong,
There's a bed to rest till morning,
Rest from pain, and rest from wrong"
(Bread and wine speak of communion/the eucharist)
The second priest's song to Jean Valjean is symbolic of the grace of God: after Valjean paid the priest evil for good,stole from him and ran away,when he got caught, the priest covered him, protected him from the officers who arrested him, and even sent him away with a gift:
"But my friend you left so early
Surely something slipped your mind
You forgot I gave these also
Would you leave the best behind?"
The priest asked the officers to release him:
"So, Messieurs, you may release him
For this man has spoken true
I commend you for your duty
And God's blessing go with you."
Then he turned to Valjean:
"But remember this, my brother
See in this some higher plan
You must use this precious silver
To become an honest man
By the witness of the martyrs
By the Passion and the Blood
God has raised you out of darkness
I have bought your soul for God!"
This grace touched Valjean's heart,transformed his life, and he in turn, touched the lives of others around him....

[@CaptainLightning1]

When he originally began writing the novel, Hugo was going to write about a Saint, the Bishop. In the end the novel featured three saints, the Bishop, Valjean, and the Mother Superior of a convent where Valjean hides after escaping Javert who famously never told a lie in her entire life, except once to save Valjean.

[@felipejacob4242]

Almost true: the never-lying nun is not from the picpus convent (which shows up later in the novel), but worked for Jean Valjean in Mr Madeleine’s infirmary. Her only lie is professed to save him from Javert after Fantine dies.

[@CaptainLightning1]

@@felipejacob4242 Sorry. I last read that book in 1988 so pardon my mistake. But you are correct.

[@thecheeselord5943]

You should reread it! I've just started reading it the first time myself! ​@@CaptainLightning1

[@ManongChito]

The moment he sang "But remember this my brother.... for God" I felt a lot of chills going up and down my back.

[@evolgenius1150]

The main premise to this musical can be summed up as Grace vs Law just the fact this dude popped up with bread and wine makes him Melkeidech, he is literally Jesus popping up in Val Jean's life... bro.. The grace and mercyh he got after stealing his silver. wow. This is making me cry it's so beatuiful. And that colm plays the priest in the movie is so good hes' like bro I walked ur exact road.

[@kingmackattack42]

Just as Christ readily forgives and welcomes us for coming to Him, no matter what crime we've done.

[@repetitiveexistentialism3967]

@Cian McCabe priests are like this, you just can't see them

[@andreaelizeth]

@@repetitiveexistentialism3967 Some of them are but some aren't. Do you forget the amount of priests who abuse their position to sexually abuse children? Ideally all priests should be like Bishop Myriel but not all of them are, that's why Valjean was touched by his compassion, because he had never met someone who treated him like a fellow man.

[@VanNessy97]

@@andreaelizeth Bishop Myriel (is that his name?) demonstrated more Christianity than 94% of the Christians I know.

[@SATMathReview1234]

@@andreaelizeth The corruption of the best is the worst. People should except Christians to be like Christ, the fact that they are not should rightly give men disgust. In the words of John Chysostom, “if ever Christian acted like one, the whole world would be converted.”

[@brodyhagemeier9356]

True. Jesus can only forgive the sins we are willing to let go.

[@joecook5689]

This valjean, colm Wilkinson, played the bishop in the movie. Brilliant casting.

[@michaelolls1086]

This is my favorite scene in the entire musical

[@jacobolson6145]

I really don’t enjoy plays but this one I’m borderline fanatic about it’s just such a good story and message

[@mickeysouza6210]

The reference for the wine to revive, and the bread to make you strong is a reference to communion.

[@BorisMacsimovich]

Bishop Myriel, the man who inspires good in us all.

[@wanderingkernel5002]

1:25 Audio Quality is my Passion

[@juradoalejandro5261]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHA

[@trombonetimmy1064]

1:25 he sounds like he feels good, duh-nuh-duh-nuh-duh-nuh-duh

[@okono77]

Beautiful and pierceing to say the least. Such compassion. Represennts God's attitude towards mankind when mankind is willing to come out of denial.

[@OldCouches]

piercing indeed. ear piercing

[@uncasunga1800]

No. The opposite. Valjean was UNwilling. That is the amazing soul changing beauty of The Gospel.

[@odonnell1218]

You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

[@zedchicago1332]

I try every day that I live to be like this Bishop

[@OllihuAkbar]

Can I have your silver?

[@OldCouches]

I was NOT expecting that scream from Valjean!

[@NiiNorteiSebrebe]

He made it loud and clear

[@kman314wastaken]

1:23 took my FLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT

[@christianmoreno8545]

Took the plate

[@TSEliot1978]

Even guards have amazing voices...

[@henryconner780]

This is one of my favorite songs in Les Mis. The kindness and mercy of the Saint is so beautiful!

[@auraguard0212]

"Took my silver, took my--" _steps on a rusty nail_

[@PhdAAA]

François-Melchior-Charles-Bienvenu de Miollis (19 June 1753, Aix-en-Provence, France - 27 June 1843, Aix-en-Provence, France[1][2]) was the Bishop of Digne from 1805 to 1838. He was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's character Bishop Myriel in the novel Les Misérables.... Similarities Both Bishop Myriel and Bishop de Miollis were the son of councillors; both were named vicar of Brignoles in 1804 and bishop of Digne in 1806; both were known by the name of Bienvenu (French for the word "welcome") due to their charitable natures and evangelical virtues.[3] Myriel used his own silver candlesticks to redeem Jean Valjean, and Miollis used his own silver coin to redeem the church and the presbytery of the sanctuary of Notre-Dame du Laus.[4]

[@KmtKV5]

Coming here as a pagan, but who saw this musical in my youth and has always admired the compassion Abrahamics teach us in this song. I wanted to be the bishop (and have at times), but I've also been Val Jean. I suppose: forgiveness to all. And thank you.

[@janeyrevanescence12]

I have bought your soul for God…so beautiful

[@JVBP10]

I doubt if anybody was ready to hear that amazing tone 😍

[@boooster101]

The microphone sure as hell wasn't

[@bbsonjohn]

"Our life is humble" -> has tons of silverware

[@liveandletlive807]

This is actually addressed in the book. The Bishop has given up everything that distracts from Christ, but finds himself holding onto his silverware even though he knows that means he hasn't given all of his earthly possessions to God. When Valjean shows up and steals the silverware, the Bishop uses it as an opportunity to teach the gospel to Valjean, which changes Valjean's worldview. Valjean then sells the silver and makes something of himself, but he keeps the candlesticks as a reminder of the mercy the Bishop showed him--the same mercy God shows to mankind.

[@TraceyMush]

This is an amazing music version of the stage show.

[@McDuffWells]

Thank you for posting. This is wonderful.

[@laomike2397]

The candle stand if placed on a table can only give light to a room. However, Valjean made it to shine the world. God’s blessing and miracle.

[@husohomeful]

the most therapeutic song ever

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Who played the Bishop here? He even looks like Jesus in the Da Vinci painting

[@t25cee]

Paul Monagham was the bishop.

[@imdhepchannel7153]

Maybe it was purposely done so

[@Theboyhoodbard]

Bishop. You wouldn't call a governor a mayor.

[@hilairebelloc3368]

However, a bishop is also a priest, whereas a governor is generally not simultaneously a mayor.

[@metalbeast3]

1:25 HO. LY. SHIT.

[@laomike2397]

What we have, we have to share

[@thecyrin2272]

Was the priest supposed to look like Jesus or was that a clever coincidence?

[@katelynnkenney9694]

1:25 - Do the roar.

[@PinkManGuy]

Yo dawg can I get some more song to go with my static

[@ocrow3654]

Shat myself laughing at 1:24, worst possible note for the audio to falter on

[@emilycruz3029]

Does anyone know who plays bishop here?

[@theragnaross6529]

good song but can someone link one with better sound quality? sheesh

[@paulbloom8847]

Colm Wilkinson is quite simply the best Valjean ever

[@chengjiang2876]

I had what's left when you finished your lion's share.

[@istoppedcaring6209]

the guards sound best to me, just the agressiveness in those voices

[@MEdalFan26]

ceriyousky?//

[@gioderoxas4681]

2:00

[@eurekal1903]

I see.. everybody lies

[@alessioballoi5876]

@Cian McCabe Flawless

[@sucukking20]

Was für Opfer