Vatican and Jehovah’s Witness Hall Mourn Prince’s Death

By penner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
By penner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/penner/2450784866) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
The late Prince was praised in America and abroad during religious services Sunday morning.

Despite being was raised a Seventh Day Adventist Prince later became a Jehovah’s Witness. His conversion became public in 2004 after he converted in 2001 after it was mentioned by a hometown publication that he was offering for publication the Watchtower door-to-door. He was reportedly guided into the faith by Larry Graham, former bass player for Sly and the Family Stone.

Vatican and Jehovah’s Witness Hall Mourn Prince’s Death[/tweetthis]

The singer passed away on April 21 at the age of 57 at his Chanhassen, Minneapolis home. His official given name was Prince Rogers Nelson.

Known as 'Brother Nelson' to the congregants at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Minnetonka where he was a respected member, Prince was unlike the mega superstar known to most. Conservatively dressed in a suit and tie for gatherings, he was hardly recognizable to most but appreciated by many for his dedication to the church and humility. He is known to have made several house to house calls, particularly for the neighbors close to his Paisley Park estate in the suburbs of Minneapolis, who were often stunned to find the legend at their doorsteps armed with a Bible and a watchtower pamphlet. He is described as a man who let the Bible be his authority. The halls and auditoriums were his escape, a place where he got to be an average, normal man, engage in discussions and sing along with the pre-recorded religious hymns like everyone else in the congregation.

His death was mentioned during the Sunday service after his passing by Elder Sean Barry during the sermon where not much about him was said. After the gathering, though, the ministerial servant Steffen, acknowledged the loss terming Prince as a musical genius adored by multitudes.

In addition, Vatican also acknowledged his death received. The president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi tweeted the star’s song “Sometimes It Snows In April.”

Another acknowledgement was from L'Osservatore Romano, the Italian edition of the Vatican daily, mentioned the prince’s demise in an article by Giuseppe Fiorentino titled ‘The Prince and the ‘labels’.” In the article, Fiorentino spoke of how Prince had engaged in unending battles with major music labels and popular digital music platforms which ended with him being boycotted by the controllers of the pop music market.

Despite the fact that his music and performances known to be raunchy at times, his music at times had Christian-inspired overtones. Although he heralded as a sex symbol in the entertainment world, his strong relationship with the church was and still is undeniable.

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