The Evangelizing Power of Liturgical Music
It is in the Liturgy where the divine encounter and exchange of love between God and the faithful takes place. Presuming a person has been apprenticed well, the Mass is the greatest opportunity for lifelong evangelization. So what are the strengths and function of music as a liturgical sign for making the Mass an opportunity for evangelization?
In the liturgy, the faithful enter into “a most intimate and personal exchange with God” (Pauley, Liturgical Catechesis). It is where the Trinity acts through the liturgical signs to put “both the faithful and the ministers into a living relationship with Christ” (CCC 1101) and through the sacraments “makes present the ‘wonder’ of God which it proclaims” (CCC 1155). The signs of the liturgy are “the bearers of the saving and sanctifying action of Christ” (CCC 1189). God uses these visible signs, where our Savior visibly appears, “to give salvation and to renew the broken covenant” (Stice, Understanding the Sacraments of Vocation).
Liturgical music is immensely influential in how the liturgy evangelizes (Pauley). While the musical texts intended must be in conformity with the Catholic doctrine (CCC 1158), that is the essential foundation of authentic worship (Pauley). As described by Pope Benedict XVI, the “ars celebrandi”, the art of proper sacramental celebration, through proper liturgical music, becomes an effective means of evangelization and key way to “bear full witness to the liturgy as a transformation place of divine encounter” (Pauley).
While the Church uses a diversity of liturgical and sacramental signs and symbols to engage the whole person in mind, body and senses (Stice), songs and music are closely connected with the liturgical action (CCC 1191) that forms “a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy” (CCC 1156). The Second Vatican Council Fathers specified the importance of music when it comes to evangelization and worship, especially in mission territories, where the harmonization of music and culture is “a powerful and effective missional tool” (White & Corcoran, Rebuilt). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also affirmed in Sing to the Lord that “God dwells within each human person, in the place where music takes its source,” that liturgical music is “a way for God to lead us to the realm of higher things” (White & Corcoran). In the Bible, “sing” is one of the most commonly used words, indicating that God’s people are supposed to sing (White & Corcoran), i.e. “serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful song” (Ps 100:2). Through song, the whole liturgy becomes “a more striking symbol of the celebration” (Stice). Therefore, the liturgical music is portrayed as “the water on which the experience sails,” which has the capabilities of “expressing a dimension of meaning and feeling that words alone cannot convey” (White & Corcoran).
Echoed by Fr Randy Stice, music manifests the presence of God, which through the sense of hearing, the liturgy operates “on different levels of communication” and engages the whole person so that each participant can enter into the liturgy with his or her whole being (Stice). In addition, liturgical music also helps to elevate the experience of divine worship (Pauley). For example, Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere engages the faithful a penitential encounter with Christ in Psalm 51 through musical text, revealing what penance sounds like (Pauley). Thus, hymns and spiritual songs are elevated forms and “more graceful expression” of prayers (Stice). Just as St Augustine says, “he who sings prays twice” (CCC 1156).
Liturgical music should lead the faithful into song. The earthly liturgy through singing is the elemental form of worship and discipleship (White & Corcoran), and is in unity with the participation in the heavenly liturgy (Stice). Liturgical song is a sacramental sign that brings the faithful into unity with the Blessed Trinity and with one another (Stice). The union of voices contributes to the union of hearts (Stice) so “we, though many, are one body in Christ” (Rom 12:5) and become “an evangelizing community” (Pauley). Therefore, it is crucial for the faithful to understand the sacramental signs and to “take part in the rites fully, actively, and as befits a community” (Stice). So, liturgical music in the Mass can provide the faithful an opportunity to encounter with Christ in a real and divine way (Pauley).
In summary, utilizing music as an liturgical sign in the Mass to provide an opportunity for evangelizing the well apprenticed faithful is important for three reasons. Firstly, songs and music are closely connected with the liturgical action that has the capabilities of expressing a dimension of meaning and feeling that words alone cannot convey. It provides an opportunity for the faithful to encounter Christ in a real and divine way that is beyond the expression of words. Secondly, through the senses of hearing, the liturgical music elevate the words and prayer experiences into a divine worship through musical text. Thirdly, liturgical music is an elemental form of worship and discipleship which the union of voices contributes to an evangelizing community. Hence, through liturgical music, the Mass can engage the whole of the faithful into full and conscious participation in the liturgy, and hence, an encounter with the Blessed Trinity and the power of the Paschal Mystery.
This article was written by Joni Cheng.
Published on O Clarim, July 6, 2018