posted on May 17, 2010 07:41
Liturgical singing is neither a kind of decoration to make our liturgies more beautiful nor an appendix to Mass. It has always been an integral part of our worship. St. Paul exhorts the people gathered for worship to sing together psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Col 3:16). According to the proverb, "One who sings well prays twice." The verb “to sing” is one of the most frequently used words in the Bible. The book of Psalms in the Bible is in fact, a book of hymns or songs of worship composed by King David. Even Jesus sang hymns and psalms (Mt 26:30).
Liturgical singing is prayer and not an optional luxury. It has the power to transcend mere words in expressing our feelings, unity and intense experience. Can anyone imagine thousands of veterans at a convention standing and reciting “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Or can you imagine friends reciting the “Happy Birthday” song to you on your birthday? Then, know that at every Mass “we join our voices with the choirs of heaven” and the sacred music and singing become a powerful tool that helps us see beyond ourselves to heaven.
Singing is the best form of active participation in the Mass; it unites us as the Body of Christ celebrating with one voice; it builds the community and expresses our unity of faith. We not only join in the same words but also in the same melodies. Singing during the Mass is not a performance to be admired but a form of prayer to be shared and offered to God. The choir, cantors, musicians have a place in the liturgy but they do not replace or exclude the congregation. Their ministry consists in leading the people in song, enhancing the quality of singing, and inspiring the faithful in their worship beyond what is accessible to the ordinary pew-singer.
Music in Catholic Worship lists in the order of their importance the songs that ought to be sung at Sunday Mass: (a) Acclamations (the Alleluia, Holy Holy, Memorial Acclamation which proclaims the mystery of faith and the great Amen); (b) Processional Songs (the entrance song opens the celebration, deepens the unity of the people, introduces the theme of the season and accompanies the procession, while the communion hymn expresses the spiritual communion of the communicants with Christ and each other); (c) Responsorial Psalm, a response to the first reading puts on our lips words that sum up the day’s scripture; (d) Ordinary Chants and (e) Supplementary songs.
Singing at Mass constitutes prayer and an act of faith. Therefore, all are obliged to participate in it, irrespective of our level of musical training or vocal expertise. The Psalmist says: “make a joyful noise to the Lord, come into his presence with singing” (Ps 100:1). Since singing has the power to unite us in the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, if a person chooses not to sing, then we cannot all be united as a congregation. Let us not become silent worshippers sitting in our pews almost as lifeless as the wood of those pews. Remember that God’s gift to us includes our voice. Some people may have better voices than others, but that should not stop us from lifting our hearts and voices in songs of praise. God gave you your voice; He deserves to hear it!
Fr. Victor G. D’Souza