Monday night, we gathered in the retreat house living room and took 5 minutes to write down the names of a few artists whose music reached us emotionally on a personal level and why. We also had to come up with, in lieu of the annual letter of intent, a few reasons why providing liturgical music is important. Then we would all share.
My list was unique, to say the least. The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, L'Angelus, & the choir at St. Ladislaus (my parish). I explained that Karen Carpenter's voice was just enough to make me cry, how the Bee Gees reminded me of my grandfather who I love dearly, and how the power behind the music of L'Angelus was great and how when I think about that band, I see a musical family who seems to have a wonderful example of what Catholic joy is all about.
Then I got to the St. Ladislaus Choir. I said a little something like this:
"So, as some of you may know, I attend Mass that is said in a different rite than all of you. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, also affectionately called the Traditional Latin Mass, it's not like the English one because there isn't too much dialogue between the priest and the congregation. It provides a plentiful amount of time to pray and meditate on what is going on at Mass before you because as you follow along you don't have to worry about what to respond and such. It's generally very quiet. However, and this is especially true for Missa Cantata, or Sung High Mass... As for any of you that take Spanish, "cantar" means "to sing". ... Anyway, there is plenty of time for you to be there absorbing the sacrifice that is going on before your very eyes, and to allow the music provided to permeate every fiber of your being. And when you encounter the beautiful music in a way you are encountering the Divine. Because "God is Ultimate Beauty". Art matters because it elevates your spiritual experience by exposing you to the beautiful which is in a sense exposing you to God."
I would like to share that with all of you because many people out there in the Church are involved with or are exposed to Liturgical music ministry in some way shape or form. When we encounter beautiful music, we experience God in a similar way to when we encounter truth and love. Please support those who provide liturgical and religious music to your parishes and in your schools and universities. Whether that be by joining their ranks or making a donation or other contribution to bringing what is beautiful to the faithful.
Kellenberg Memorial High School Gregorian Consortium
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