Singing can be good for you!

 

A couple weeks ago, the New York Times reported that Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman currently rehabilitating from a bullet wound to the brain is being aided by the use of song.   Giffords is apparently lip-syncing songs to help regain full function of her speech.   It reminds me of  the time my Aunt Mary went into a nursing home.  Her mind was failing but once a week when the music therapists came to sing songs with the residents, Aunt Mary appeared to be sharp as a tack.  She sang those familiar melodies planted deep in her bones by heart and with heart.  Ah!  I mused, the power of ritual song!

Ritual singing is what we do each time we gather for liturgy.  St. Augustine explained that singing is for lovers.  It’s what people in love do!   Who among us in the throes of falling in love hasn’t wandered about singing or whistling a tune???    God is in love with us!  We are in love with God!  Words are not enough to express our feelings!  We must sing!!!! 

But singing takes guts—ask any cantor! Singing involves risk and vulnerability.  Yet, this is exactly what is asked of each of us when we celebrate liturgy—to be open, vulnerable and willing to go beyond our comfort zones.

When I often ask people to join the choir, I usually get the same stock answer, “I can’t sing.”   Everyone can sing, at different levels perhaps, but EVERYONE CAN SING!  As J-Glen Murray said during a recent day of reflection at STA, “Whatever kind of voice God has given you, you need to give it back to him.”  So, next time you’re at Mass,  lift up your voice in song, loudly, lavishly.  It will lift your spirits and might even save your life.

O Lord, give us the joy and the courage to sing!

United We Stand

As the events in Egypt continue to unfold, I am reminded of the motto “United We Stand.”

This phrase  was attributed originally to Aesop and then to 18^th century American politician John Dickinson in his Revolutionary War tune, “The Liberty Song.”  It was also used by orator and founding father Patrick Henry in his last public speech.  The concept is simple: standing together in unity, a  community (or in the case of Egypt, a nation) is more likely to withstand opposition or oppression.  In other words, standing together is powerful!

I think of the times  we stand together:  when someone of rank walks in the room as a sign of respect,  when singing the National Anthem as a sign of unity, at the end of a performance as a sign of joy and to express our approval.

I reflect on the times we stand together at Mass:   at the opening song to gather our voices into one, at the proclamation of the Gospel as a sign of respect and joy in the good news, during the creed to proclaim what we believe, at the distribution of communion to mark our solidarity with one another, and at the end to be sent forth with God’s blessing.

 If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you have discovered that many churches do not have kneelers, giving credence to the words in the Eucharistic Prayer:  “We thank you for counting us worthy to STAND in your presence and serve you.”   Standing during the liturgy has traditionally been a sign of joy in the resurrection.  In fact, in the early Church it was forbidden to kneel during the 50 days of Easter, so overwhelming was the joy that the God-Man Jesus died and came back to life.    

O Lord, may the joy and hope of the resurrection keep us standing in solidarity with all those oppressed and suffering here and abroad.  AMEN.

Changing Traditions

 

My family normally gathered at my Mother’s house for the holidays.  We usually shared an Italian meal—even when celebrating American feasts.  We typically started with a serving of canned fruit cocktail (this was before the days of Whole Foods and grocery-cut fruit that is ready to serve ).  It had been several years since Mom died and it was my turn to host the Christmas feast.  I kept the tradition of serving canned fruit.  My brother said to me, “Okay Kathy, I think we can dispense with the fruit cocktail.”  (He was never a fan)  I guess part of me wanted to maintain all of the traditions of home in order to keep the memory of my Mom alive.  But my brother was right, we didn’t need canned fruit cocktail to do that.

At our recent Parish Mission, friends came up and asked why we (at St. Thomas Aquinas) don’t ring the “traditional” bells at the consecration anymore.  I explained the reason why the bells became a part of the liturgy in the first place;  In the Middle Ages, Mass was said ad orientem, with the priest facing the altar, speaking in Latin, a language which many did not understand, and speaking in a soft voice, which many could not hear.  The bells helped notify people what was going on when.   While bells are certainly permitted today, they are not necessarily required.  In our current practice, the priest faces the people, speaks in the vernacular and wears a microphone.  Our former theology which focused heavily on “the moment” when the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus has broadened a bit.  Now, the Church views many, many moments, in fact, the entire liturgy as sacred and significant.  If we wanted to mark every sacred moment, we could easily be ringing bells throughout the entire Mass!!

The point is, our circumstances change and so do our traditions.  These days, I find myself eating Christmas dinner at the airport food court.  And yes, sometimes I even have fresh fruit.

O Lord, give us a heart that welcomes new traditions and the wisdom to preserve the best of the old.  AMEN.

Superbowl, Super-Mass?

We are a ritual people.  That is, our lives both revolve around and are created by rituals.  One of our favorite rituals is football!  I’m from Pittsburgh, so I have a special interest in Super Bowl XLV.  Two weeks ago, I watched the playoff game between Pittsburgh and New York with friends from home.  We acknowledged how united we felt that night.  The fact that we were watching the game together was a mere expression of what we already share in common: a hometown, ethnic heritage, cultural traditions, even a special language we call “Pittsburghese.”   We, along with the more than 60-thousand fans gathered at Heinz Field sat on the edge of our seats in anticipation of the opening kickoff.  Even though we were watching the game on television, we participated by raising our “Terrible Towels”,  yelling, screaming and clapping our team to victory.    Our hearts and souls were in it till the end!

As Catholics, we too are ritual people whose very lives revolve around and are created by the Eucharistic liturgy.  We come to Mass as a people united by our common faith, history, traditions and prayer.  Our liturgy both expresses and strengthens our unity.

We are called to participate with full hearts and voices, not with ‘Terrible Towels’, but with song, symbol and gesture.   We are called to be in it till the end!!  We don’t need to cheer a team to victory--Christ has already won the victory for us—a victory of life over death!!  Now it’s our turn to give thanks and to celebrate!!!

What would happen if we approached the liturgy with the same anticipation as the big game?  What would happen if we really paid attention to the readings, the prayers and sang the songs with strong voices?  What would happen if we participated as if our lives depended on it?

What would happen if we stayed until the end?

Might we have a different church?   Might we have a different world?

O Lord, give us the mindfulness to participate more actively in the liturgy, that we might participate in life more energized by your grace.  Amen.