We touched on this topic between the video in Series 5.
People that particpate in the mass (other than a standard parishoner), Altar Servers, Lectors, Choir, etc. These people may have a different experience in mass, they may miss something the father says, or they may not have complete attention to a reading, whatever. I have not been an altar server or Lector, so I can not offer guidance on those, but here are my thoughts about choir and musicians.
For me, playing the piano in mass, this is a different experience. It is obviously something that requires my complete attention while I am playing. But, for me, music is much more emotional way to celebrate mass. For many people, music evokes emotions, sometimes so much that you cry. It triggers thoughts, memories, rememberances. This is God's music in God's House. I believe that those in the choir are given "Other" experiences from God directly while signing and playing, to nourish their spirit. There are many passages in the bible about singing to the Lord and playing music on instruments.
Psalm 47:6, NIV: "Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises."
Psalm 147:7, NIV: "Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp."
To sing and play to God is not just a one time act at the mass. It takes years of learning and preparation to be able to play instruments and daily practice every week for the next upcoming mass. This is time we give to God, during the week and mass.
To me, every time I play a hymn or church music, that is a prayer to god, the music provides a background, but our voices either out loud or in our heads, are the prayer to God.
So, for the choir and musicians, I feel that if we miss a word or sentence from a reading, God has plans for us, to bless and nourish us in other ways during the mass while we are offering up our music.
Here is a famous quote from Johann Sebastian Bach,
“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”
and I feel he is saying pretty much what took me paragraphs to explain LOL
Bruce
@n9jcv Bruce, Yes. Music absolutely awesome for worshipping God. St. Augustine said something to the effect, worshipping God by singing is like just reciting a prayer twice. It has a double effect.
Like you suggested, we should start our session with a song.
Thank you
I completely understand, sympathize and agree with your position, Bruce. As a lector I don't have a concern about missing something said, or done by Father, but as an usher there can be times of great distraction where there are things that get passed over in my "participation". For example, at offertory, when we take up the collection, we are usually securing the collection in the sacristy when Father begins the Eucharistic liturgy and we miss that initial blessing over the bread and of the wine he (unfortunately) says silently. That is a profound part of the Mass! That is the blessing of the third cup; the cup of redemption in the Passover Jesus prayed at the Last Supper recorded in Scripture and that Jews still pray today - the priest prays that same blessing: "Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation...". It is sad when I miss that, but I am missing it because I am in service to God in his Church which is consolation. One thing that does help me, which I suspect might offer a bit of help for those in music ministry, is knowing the readings ahead of time and being able to reflect upon their meaning and message so that even though we might miss those words due to our service, we don't miss out because we have spent time contemplating them either in preparation to proclaim from the ambo, or to express them in the songs chosen.
As to the music, I am in one hundred percent agreement! Music conveys a message in ways words alone cannot deliver and at a level words alone struggle to reach. I second Rajan's reference to St. Augustine: "He who sings prays twice". Hear, hear!!
