On Music
As humans, we are blessed with the ability to express ourselves in various ways. Such gifts as speech, laughter, and tears often find their way into our prayer lives. But even greater than these gifts remains another mode of prayer. Indeed, our deepest emotions are often prayed in song.
When we pray, we express an array of interior sentiments to the Lord. This gamut is laid out in the Book of Psalms, the fundamental prayer texts of Judeo-Christianity. They tell of consolation and desolation, joy and anger, repentance and thanksgiving. King David, who authored many of the psalms, understood well the value of sung prayer, inasmuch as psalms, as a poetic form, are meant to be sung. What favor and intercession we would win from St. David if we sang one of his own psalms to him on occasion!
Music is a spiritual activity. At Mass, we join the “choirs” of angels as they sing before God’s throne. In fact, the very notion of singing in a choir is a markedly Catholic one, because a choir is a family. The sense of “rightness” felt in a good musical chord is a product of our human sensitivity to others. Delighting in harmony is a manifestation of our ability to recognize selflessly the value of another voice.
Just as God is a Trinity perpetually speaking forth the Word in the Spirit for the Father, a choir singing in harmony is a timeless preservation of a valued voice. Unity is created from distinct parts, and we are called into community as component parts are instructed into harmony. This ability of mankind is a humanizing demonstration of our need to be respectful and concerned, not egocentric.
Music is also a cultural activity. The psalms were songs of shepherds; hymns are the songs of Catholic families; and chant is the song of the Church. Secular music has its merit, but it is not the tune of true culture. “Culture” literally derives from the word for “worship,” and culture should therefore be informed by faith. That which we do in the name of culture must be done in the light of Christ. The best music, then, is pervaded by the Spirit.
In the rich treasury of the Church, we find diverse musical styles. Standard hymnody, praise and worship, Christian rock, Gregorian chant, and sacred polyphony all are part of the storehouse of prayed song. The latter of these are most apt for use in the sacred liturgy, while the former are especially suitable for private devotion. We do well to enrich our souls with the faith-inspired works of fellow believers. We remember, meanwhile, that sung prayer is the end goal—not prayed song.
So, how do we pray in song? Any way we can! Use trumpets and strings, cymbals and harps. But, above all, use your voice: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Ps. 150: 6, NAB). Because the Lord has been good to me, “I will sing to the Lord all my life!” (Ps. 104: 33, NAB). Cantabo Domino!
When we pray, we express an array of interior sentiments to the Lord. This gamut is laid out in the Book of Psalms, the fundamental prayer texts of Judeo-Christianity. They tell of consolation and desolation, joy and anger, repentance and thanksgiving. King David, who authored many of the psalms, understood well the value of sung prayer, inasmuch as psalms, as a poetic form, are meant to be sung. What favor and intercession we would win from St. David if we sang one of his own psalms to him on occasion!
Music is a spiritual activity. At Mass, we join the “choirs” of angels as they sing before God’s throne. In fact, the very notion of singing in a choir is a markedly Catholic one, because a choir is a family. The sense of “rightness” felt in a good musical chord is a product of our human sensitivity to others. Delighting in harmony is a manifestation of our ability to recognize selflessly the value of another voice.
Just as God is a Trinity perpetually speaking forth the Word in the Spirit for the Father, a choir singing in harmony is a timeless preservation of a valued voice. Unity is created from distinct parts, and we are called into community as component parts are instructed into harmony. This ability of mankind is a humanizing demonstration of our need to be respectful and concerned, not egocentric.
Music is also a cultural activity. The psalms were songs of shepherds; hymns are the songs of Catholic families; and chant is the song of the Church. Secular music has its merit, but it is not the tune of true culture. “Culture” literally derives from the word for “worship,” and culture should therefore be informed by faith. That which we do in the name of culture must be done in the light of Christ. The best music, then, is pervaded by the Spirit.
In the rich treasury of the Church, we find diverse musical styles. Standard hymnody, praise and worship, Christian rock, Gregorian chant, and sacred polyphony all are part of the storehouse of prayed song. The latter of these are most apt for use in the sacred liturgy, while the former are especially suitable for private devotion. We do well to enrich our souls with the faith-inspired works of fellow believers. We remember, meanwhile, that sung prayer is the end goal—not prayed song.
So, how do we pray in song? Any way we can! Use trumpets and strings, cymbals and harps. But, above all, use your voice: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Ps. 150: 6, NAB). Because the Lord has been good to me, “I will sing to the Lord all my life!” (Ps. 104: 33, NAB). Cantabo Domino!
posted by Friguy @ Thursday, March 09, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home