Many Parts
O Unseen Guest, we hear your voice
In our own harmony.
When we surrender to a holy blend,
No one voice is heard, only a new voice
That no one can own.
It is your voice that resonates in this church,
The Christ voice that praises the Father.
Once we learn to stop wanting to be heard,
Singing for ourselves.
We are transformed into your voice.
Soprano, alto tenor and bass
Surrender into anew sound,
A new presence.
The voice comes when we melt into the heart
Of your divine presence.
What emerges is a sound so fine
Beyond our best effort.
O Christ, sing thru us.
Amen. Choir Prayers, Volume 3
I rush into church with a hundred things on my mind. I squeeze Sunday Mass in between laundry and my son’s soccer practice. I am in a horrible mood. Why in the world are they having soccer practice at noon on a Sunday? I squeeze into a back pew just as the opening hymn begins. It is one of my favorites. “The Eyes and Hands of Christ” by Tom Kendzia. “…living the challenge as bearers of light…” Suddenly my soul quiets into the heartbeat of the Shepherd. All those worries, fears, angers melt away. My soul seems to be resting, awaiting the table with a grace I had not expected.
Do you have a favorite hymn? It is the one that always speaks to your spirit. It could be a memory hymn, one that inspires a trip back to a holy moment or the one that was sung at a touchstone moment in your life. It might be a sad hymn that comforts and inspires. Liam Lawton’s “The Silence and the Sorrow” comes to mind. Whatever it may be, we can see the power of music in liturgy. The choir voice is a ministry, a grace that brings the voice of God into the assembly. Just as God speaks through the scripture, through the homily, etc., music adds a deeper dimension to worship. When we walk into church feeling hopeless and overwhelmed, the music floods the nave and something changes.
November 22–23 marks a special Jubilee of Choirs during Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope. In these days, as we celebrate thousands of choirs throughout the world, we need to consider why these dedicated singers come to offer their gift. No one knows their names and in the spirit of humility they take the back seat at the banquet. Yet, through their good work at the table, all that we do at Mass is elevated. Walter Brueggermann puts it this way, “We sing what we cannot say.” He points out that the singing voice of the assembly and choir are more than a mere reflection of heaven. The choir invites us to participate in a different world than our earthly kingdom can provide. We sing alongside the divine Voice that challenges us to encounter the values of the divine.
In the words of an old Gospel hymn, “We’re under the spout where the glory comes out”! The role of the choir needs to be taken seriously. It is not a nice extra or a source of entertainment. It is essential to the rhythm and flow of our liturgical prayer. Often, it is not just a prayer from our hearts, it is a voice from the heart of God.
Find resources for the Jubilee of Choirs from the USCCB here.
Find more resources for Jubilee 2025 here.
Fine more choir prayers here.