Praying Through My Fingers

Mary Lou Williams was not only a celebrated pianist and composer in her own right, but a creative inspiration to fellow jazz legends who held her in the highest esteem. Wynton Marsalis says, “All the heavyweights talked to Mary Lou. They loved her. They always say, ‘She taught us a lot.” Students, friends and collaborators included such luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. 

Lesser known, and the focus of this exhibit, is the story of Williams’ conversion to Catholicism in the 1950s and how she came to see her gift of music as her God-given way to bring beauty, love and healing to the world. She often said when she played piano, she was praying through her fingers. Williams would eventually compose three jazz Masses, including her, Mass for the Lenten Season premiering at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Harlem, with Servant of God Dorothy Day in attendance.

Inspired by Williams’ originality, courage and abiding faith, Br. Mickey McGrath has created the boldly colorful digital images and illuminated quotes in this exhibit. “I have always loved the graphic cover designs of vintage jazz records, and have gone for that effect,” says Br. Mickey.