By Kathy Borgen
As I write this we have just prayed the liturgies for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. The Responsorial Psalm appointed for this past weekend was taken from Psalm 89, “Forever I Will Sing the Goodness of the Lord.” At each of our Masses the cantors put forth their usual fine work proclaiming the psalm refrain and the corresponding verses, literally singing the goodness of God. But something is missing. Where is the congregation singing the Lord’s goodness?
In these days of public Masses during COVID-19 maybe Psalm 137 would be more fitting:
By the rivers of Babylon there we sat weeping when we remembered Zion. on the poplars we hung up our harps - How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land? – excerpts from Psalm 137
When we received word from the Archdiocese that we could once again hold public Masses, the notice was accompanied by a list of protocols which we needed to follow when reopening. Included on the list was no congregational singing or any use of choirs. Although the Archdiocese did not explain their rationale behind this, it is likely related to recent studies which have shown that the act of singing possibly emits more of the aerosols carrying the COVID germs. We anxiously await the results of other studies currently underway which are aiming to find ways in which singing can be done safely.
In the meantime, what are we to do? Since the beginning of time we have been a singing people. Any document that has been written about liturgy speaks to the importance of singing the Mass. References to singing among God’s people occur 309 times in the Old Testament and 36 times in the New Testament. Sing to the Lord, published by the USCCB, says: “Music does what words alone cannot …gives a dimension of meaning and feeling that words alone cannot convey. Music can give the praise and adoration of God a greater dimension… assists the assembly to join themselves with the action of Christ and give voice to the gift of faith.” We have been told that “liturgical worship is more noble when celebrated in song…unity of hearts more profoundly achieved by the union of voices…prefiguring that heavenly liturgy.” What is to be our response when the Spirit has enkindled love in us which moves us to want to sing?
By now the words “full, conscious, active participation” from Vatican II are well-known. However, must “active” mean “aloud?” While participation is often external, using gestures, responses, and singing, it should be above all, internal. By being internal, it is meant that the faithful will be united in joining their minds to whatever they are hearing, reciting, or singing. Even in non-COVID times this happens when the priest prays seemingly by himself, but on our behalf, during the Collect, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the Prayer after Communion, for instance. While the priest is praying, we pray with him silently in spiritual union. Again in “normal” times, the choir might carry out its ministry by singing alone; part of their function is to enrich liturgies with musical elements not accessible to the congregation. It is intended during these pieces that the congregation will be able to pray- to unite themselves to God- internally, while listening.
You may notice that some of the music we are using during this pandemic time is unfamiliar. The purpose of this is twofold: to encourage internal prayer by eliminating the temptation to sing along, and also to introduce new music that we may use as a parish later. The cantors who have been singing in the last few months have worked hard on their own (since in-person rehearsals are not possible) to learn new music and to sing it in a way that encourages attentive listening. Might we use this pandemic time to take in the silent times during liturgy as opportunities for interior conversation with the Lord? Shared silence can become shared prayer. Pope Francis has noted that “the Lord speaks to us through the Scriptures and in our prayer. Let us learn to keep silence before Him…”. Let the spoken prayers and the sung music be your guide for your quiet prayer.
In the words of Saint John Paul II, “ … if we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, then our hearts are filled with hope, our minds are washed in the light of truth, and we come to know the fullness of the Gospel with all is promise and life”. And when that day comes when we can all sing together again, what a joy it will be to: Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Ps. 96: 1-2.