Singing in Mass

There used to be a time when people dressed UP to go to mass... now, what with the proliferation of mall chapels in Manila, people go to hear mass in mall attire. At best, it's too casual for mass (e.g. branded wife beaters, shorts and slippers). At worst, it shows too much skin for mass (there's a joke about a priest who, instead of saying "The body of Christ" as he held out the host towards a lady showing her generous decolletage, said: "Christ! What a body!").

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.