Our Hymns Project
Every once in a while there comes into our lives and experience something that causes us to pause and ask simple, yet very interesting questions.
They are questions like: "Why did it happen?"
"Why at this time, in this place?" "How could it be that this…or that, has occurred?" or "What could be the meaning of all this?"
Have you ever taken some time to wonder about ministry and music?
Our Canadian Bishops expressed their view on these subjects in Ministries in the Assembly-National Bulletin on Liturgy-Vol 24(Dec 1991)No 127:225;226:
One common view of ministry in general is that the minister is to do good things for and to others; to heal, counsel, encourage, absolve, challenge; to serve the sick and those in need; to work to transform society, etc. This approach has its good side, obviously. But carried too far, this approach can lead to passivity on the part of those ministered to. They become recipients, not participants. They become objects of ministry, not active subjects.
If carried too far doing things for others in the context of liturgical celebrations could inhibit the ministry of the assembly, not foster it.
To facilitate and enable: What if we were to take the view that a major purpose of all individual liturgical ministries was to facilitate, enable and foster the ministry of the assembly as a whole? Not to replace or do good things for and to the assembly, but to help the assembly become the minister it is called to be.
Individual liturgical ministers would then be called to think of the assembly and its ministry first. Their role would be in part to encourage, facilitate, foster and enable the assembly as a whole and each of its individual members to the full, active, conscious and fruitful participation to which they have a right and responsibility because of their baptism. This is a great challenge and a great privilege.
Before Vatican II often the musician sang or played the liturgical music in place of the assembly. (The hymns that the people might have sung were extras, not really part of the liturgy itself.)
(Vatican II envisioned) Cantors who would not simply lead the people in song, but facilitate the closer union of members of the assembly through their singing together. They would enable the assembly to respond to the biblical word and liturgical prayer through the psalm and the acclamations.
One of the amazing things about music is its connecting-ness.
Every once in a while, we realize when we hear a piece of music, that it carries us back to a place we have been, or takes us to a place we only know because of the music itself. There are certain songs in our experience that conjure in us images and visions of important, vital, exciting times in our lives; and there are other songs that fill us with sadness and reacquaint us with grief.
An unknown author once said,
"How many of us ever stop to think of music as a wondrous magic link with God;
taking sometimes the place of prayer when words have failed us 'neath the weight of care?
Music, that knows not country, race or creed;
but gives to each according to his need."
If you have some thoughts or you wish to get involved please let us know via contact@spparish.com
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