Pastor Weekly Message for August 8, 2021

Dear: Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Saint Augustine said: “He who sings, prays twice.” The holy Bishop of Hippo meant that singing adds to our praise and worship of God—that our voices are gifts, with which we can make music to the Lord. Sung prayer expresses the joy of the heart, the happiness resulting from one who has encountered Jesus Christ and experienced his love.  Sung prayer reminds us of the choirs of heaven, with whom we are called to praise God eternally in heaven.

Sung prayer reaches its high point in the sacred liturgy, the public worship of the Church. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is made more beautiful by the singing of every Catholic, who is called to active participation—through sung prayer, especially—in the Mass.

The Second Vatican Council taught that, “liturgical worship is given a more noble form when the divine offices are celebrated solemnly in song, with the assistance of sacred ministers and the active participation of the people.”  When the sacred liturgy is sung, it becomes more beautiful, and more reflective of the beauty of the Most Blessed Trinity.

Christians have sung in sacred liturgy since the Church’s earliest days.  And the Jewish people have sung praise to God, in the context of holy worship, for thousands of years.  The Psalms are the record of the liturgical song-prayers of the Jewish people.  When we sing in the context of Holy Mass, we join a tradition of sacred worship that goes back to at least the time of King David himself.  “Let us come before him with a song of praise,” wrote King David, “joyfully sing out our psalms.”

Pope St. John Paul II wrote that at every Mass, the “faithful to take an active part in the singing.”  In fact, the Church teaches that the Mass is a sacred ritual in which holy music and holy texts form one integral act of praise, thanksgiving, and worship to God himself. 

When we sing, we experience God’s presence in a new way.  Pope St. John Paul prayed that every Catholic, by “expressing their faith harmoniously and solemnly in song, will experience its richness ever more fully and will abide by the commitment to express its impulses in their daily life.”

We are blessed to have the fabulous Malena Towers as the Director of Music of our parish and an amazing music ministry that leads us in worship at Mass. Our goal at Saint Mary’s is to develop a hundred voice choir for the Glory of God.  This is an ambitious goal, however, I know there are many parishioners who love to sing but are afraid to take the next step in joining the choir. I want to encourage parishioners, if you love to sing and want to offer the gift of your voice to God, take the next step and join our marvelous music ministry.  Please call Malena at the parish office, 732-671-0071, ext. 221. 

St. Augustine was right—he who sings prays twice.  May we sing together—in holy worship, and our homes—in praise and thanksgiving for all that God has given us.

Have a blessed week!

In Jesus and Mary,
Father Jeff Kegley
Pastor