At Krakow’s stately Divine Mercy centre, the contemplative atmosphere suddenly evaporates as nuns in black habits come dancing along the corridor.
“Yo yo/Rapping ain’t hard to do/It’s enough to say ‘Jesus,/I trust you!/And right now we don’t want masks/We just want merciful grace!”
When Polish rap artists launched ‘Hot16Challenge’ in late April to raise funds for medical staff tackling the coronavirus, they did not expect their country’s religious sisters would get in on the act.
Within a month, however, as would-be rap stars exchanged nominations, convents nationwide had posted videos on YouTube, alongside Catholic priests and seminarians and even some Polish bishops.
“When it comes to music, we don’t always keep up with the latest stuff, but we’re ready to try new things when the call comes,” explained Sr Emanuela Gemza of the Mother of Divine Mercy Order.
“I immediately realised this was a great chance to evangelise – to show in an untypical way how God cares for us. I think the Holy Spirit guided us in putting the words and melody together.”
Picture: Polish nuns are seen rapping in a screen grab from a YouTube video during the ‘Hot16Challenge’. Polish rap artists launched the challenge in late April to raise funds for medical staff tackling Covid-19. (CNS photo/YouTube).
