Thomas Aquinas says: "The soul is distracted from that which is sung by a chant that is employed for the purpose of giving pleasure. But if the singer chant for the sake of devotion, he pays more attention to what he says, both because he lingers more thereon, and because, as Augustine remarks (Confess. x, 33), "each affection of our spirit, according to its variety, has its own appropriate measure in the voice, and singing, by some hidden correspondence wherewith it is stirred." The same applies to the hearers, for even if some of them understand not what is sung, yet they understand why it is sung, namely, for God's glory: and this is enough to arouse their devotion." (Summa Theologica II-II, Q. 91)
Why is there music at Mass? To offer prayer and praise to God! To direct our attention to the action of the Mass, the Eucharistic celebration. We all have favorite hymns, and favorite styles of hymns. We have all had the experience of hearing a beloved, forgotten hymn from childhood, and being overwhelmed by sadness or joy--or both--as memories come flooding back. This happened to me, playing a funeral some months ago. The family had requested "Softly and Tenderly," which I hadn't heard in about 20 years, but which I instantly remembered from the Lutheran church where I grew up. In addition to the poignantly-familiar melody, I heard the text in a new way than ever before. At the end of that refrain, "earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!" the tears came, and it was quite inconvenient, as I could no longer see the music I was supposed to be playing! But just like Augustine, we must check ourselves. Why are we stirred by a certain hymn? Is it really drawing us closer to Christ, or is it actually distracting us from Christ by acting more superficially on our emotions? Can you think of a time when the music drew you into a deeper experience of the Mass? Maybe the cantor sang the Psalm so prayerfully that you, too, were stirred to devotion. Maybe a hymn or the choir's Offertory anthem recalled so well the Word as proclaimed in the Gospel reading. Maybe when singing "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us," you really felt led to offer this as a fervent prayer. Please share your stories! Help us celebrate the ability of music to move the mind and heart. (Click on "Comments" below to post a comment.)
4 Comments
Ellen Paz
8/19/2020 03:36:12 pm
Whenever I hear and sing “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord,” I am not only moved by the lyrics of the hymn, but have memories of my father playing the trumpet in the choir loft of our small Episcopal church in Menomonee Falls, WI as I sang this hymn as a young soloist. I’ll never forget turning to see my father play, as tears streamed down his face.
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Katie Amann
8/25/2020 05:38:09 am
I have so many favorites, but there are two that knock me out of my complacency. When I sing, "Here I Am Lord," I remember the answer I should be giving, instead of, "I'm too busy." And, every few Christmases I hear "The King Shall Come." Since it's not one that's a constant at every church or overplayed on the radio, I stop to listen...and think about what God has really done. How a baby must have shattered expectations for some and given great hope to others. Then I have to sit carefully to hide the inexplicable - it moves me to tears.
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Peggy Rosenthal
8/28/2020 08:56:38 am
Two musical moments come to mind as bringing me into a deeper experience of Mass.
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Katie Amann
8/31/2020 05:47:21 am
Peggy, I agree with you and, if I may smile with you ... for a time, my youngest brother insisted the word we sang before the Gospel was "Happy-luia!" While my parents tried in earnest to correct him, I always thought he had the right idea and his mistake woke many of us up to what we were really singing.
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