There used to be a time when the mass was the highlight of Sunday, the main event upon which all other activities are scheduled around. Now we tend to look at the mall's movie schedules first, before selecting the most convenient mass schedule.
There used to be a time when people sang joyfully, out loud, during the mass. Now, most people are content to let the choir do all the singing. But they're missing out on one of the best parts of the mass!
I can no longer count the number of times I've gotten glances and looks from other members of the congregation, presumably on account of my singing with gusto along with the choir.
They say St. Augustine once said, "To sing is to pray twice." As for me, I sing because I can't help it. I sing because it is a way of aligning my mutated, misshapen soul back towards God. I sing because it is a way to get my soul "in tune" with His Will, with the communion of saints both on heaven and on earth.
Yes. ♥ I can't understand why it's considered so odd for the congregation to join in the singing. We were out of town at this church with an absolutely amazing choir that treated us to Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" post-Communion. My husband and I had sung in countless times, so we joined in the choral part... but softly. It almost felt like we were interrupting a performance from some of the looks we got.
ReplyDeleteBeing a part of the local choir ourselves worked as a solution for a little while, but now that work schedules make it too difficult to attend rehearsals, we just settle with being the odd singing people like before. :D