The Blind Organist of Seville: Maese Pérez's Devotion

Maese Pérez: The Humble Blind Organist

Maese Pérez was a blind organist and very humble. He had no relatives other than his daughter, and no friend other than his instrument. He spent his entire life maintaining the integrity of his music and composing new pieces. He played his favorite instrument so well that the Archbishop of Seville asked him to play at the cathedral, especially during the *Midnight Mass* (Misa del Gallo). The organist always performed well, but one particular night was a true prodigy.

The Organist's Last Request

It was the night of the *Midnight Mass*. The Mass was scheduled to begin, but several minutes passed without Maese Pérez appearing. A family reported that he had fallen gravely ill. A man who could play the organ well, but who was known to be a bad person, offered himself as a substitute. Just as the Archbishop agreed, Maese Pérez arrived. Seeing death very close, he had asked to be taken to the church to play one last time and die in peace. That night, while playing the organ in an extraordinary way, he reached a moment where he could stand no more and died from his disease.

The Scandalous Substitute

The following year, on the night of the *Midnight Mass*, the same man who had tried to replace the Master the previous year was scheduled to play. The parishioners feared that this replacement would defile the memory of Maese Pérez, and they complained bitterly about his daring. They planned to express their displeasure by making noise with **rattles, tambourines, and zambombas** just as the new organist began to play. However, to everyone's surprise, the new organist played *just as well* as the now-deceased Master.

The Soul Returns to the Organ

Another year had passed, and it was again the *Misa del Gallo*. This time, Maese Pérez's daughter was scheduled to play the organ, but she feared something supernatural. The night before, while she was alone adjusting the organ stops, she saw her late father playing wonderfully. When it was time for the Mass, the daughter sat on the organ bench, ready to play her best. At the moment of consecration, the organ sounded, followed immediately by a cry from Maese Pérez's daughter. She had noticed that the bench was empty, yet the organ was still playing. It was the **soul of Maese Pérez** who had returned to play his beloved organ again. This confirmed that the same thing had happened the previous year: it was the Master's soul playing, not the substitute's hands.