Prayer and Singing

“Let us sing a new song not with our lips but with our lives.” St. Augustine

I recently joined a choir. I am not a singer for sure and I have no idea what motivated me to join. With trepidation I walked into the hall and started my potentially “Grammy Award” winning career. Of course, it was not to be. But, after some interesting experiences over the past year, I decided to try new things. We hosted an international student this summer and he taught us a lot. His intelligence was only part of it. He took risks and I thought I might do that same. The choir was only the beginning.

“Don’t let yourself forget that God’s grace rewards not only those who never slip, but also those who bend and fall. So, sing! The song of rejoicing softens hard hearts. It makes tears of godly sorrow flow from them. Singing summons the Holy Spirit. Happy praises offered in simplicity and love lead the faithful to complete harmony, without discord. Don’t stop singing.” Hildegard of Bingen

The concert we gave went off without a hitch to my surprise. I did not think we were ready, and I even invited family and my international students. It was a great surprise. I think of the motivation that propelled me into the choir a few months ago. When I was in high school, I was dragged kicking and screaming into a choir, and I hated every minute of it. How things change and rightly so. People grow and change without even knowing it. It is easy to pigeon-hole a person and keep your perspective of that person without giving that person a chance. I learned that the hard way. The choir taught me a lot.

“Take courage, toil, and strive zealously, for nothing will be lost. Every prayer you make, every psalm you sing is recorded.” St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Looking back to why I joined the choir made me realize that I took an opportunity. I met some new people and rekindled friendships with older people. This is how Our Lord works. He moves in ways we do not understand and in ways that surprise us. In the struggles of my life, I realized that I am not alone. I made a commitment and made it through. The people I had invited to the concert were also pleasantly surprised.

“God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle. In the company of friends, we will find strength to attain our sublime ideal.” St. Maximilian Kolbe

Bl. Bartolo Longo was an Italian who despite growing up Catholic became involved in very dark beliefs. Once he reverted to the Catholic Church, he became a preacher of the Rosary. As a young man, he played the violin, flute, and piano and directed a band. Years later when he worked with young people, he made sure his institution had a band. The Aleteia website also mentions Bl. Miguel Pro who was a Mexican Jesuit priest who served his people while in hiding during the Cristero War. He was famous for his practical jokes and often played guitar or mandolin to keep people’s spirits up. Music can do this. In the Catholic movement, Communion and Liberation, the founder, Fr. Luigi Giussani always reminded us of the importance of singing. When I visit the Carmelite Convent near my home, you can hear their voices sing in harmony to our Lord behind their curtain during mass. I do not know how I managed to fulfill my commitment to the choir. I do not like the sound of my voice when I sing but I persevered. I think of what St. Jose Escriva reminded many people, “Make few resolutions. Make specific resolutions. And fulfill them with the help of God.”