To Sing Is To Pray Twice...

[Aloysius]

yeah, but do you practice for an hour right before mass distracting ppl from the time they're supposedta have in silence to pray before mass? i'm sorry, it just annoys me that they take over the Church that SHOULD BE SILENT before mass and play all their music while i'm trying to recollect the presence of the Lord and begin praying.

i'm sorry, that annoys me. practicing is fine, just don't noisy-up the sanctuary for at least a half-hour before Mass please

[willguy]

Actually, we're usually done like 20 minutes before Mass starts.

[the_rev]

Our choir goes right up to Father starts talking!

[nikkan_hanil]

Bump.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Absolutely!

[God Conquers]

If singing is praying twice... how many times are you praying when you DANCE!?

[Katt1227]

I've always agreed with Augustine's quote, "to sing is to pray twice" because it reminds me that when I am singing that it is a prayer. Singing, even done poorly, is a beautiful expression of unity among people. I sing in our church choir, and have for years now, and it always upsets me when people in the congregation don't sing because they think they don't have a good enough voice. A very dear friend of mine who is completely tone-deaf sings quite loudly and quite wonderfully in church and he told me once that God gave him that voice and God was going to get to hear it.

I would also like to comment on those who complain about the musicians practicing before mass. We are trying to practice so that we can give our best to God during mass. And yes, ultimately it doesn't matter if we mess up, but who doesn't want to give God everything that they have. At least that's how I look at practice. I could show up 5 minutes before mass and sing fine, but if I put a couple hours of practice in my voice will sound better, the choir as a whole will sound better, and if I'm going to give the gift of music to the congregation and back to God I want to give it completely.

[cathgirl]

I definately think that he meant singing from your heart and soul. God wouldn't allow someone people who can sing to worship Him twice as much, than those who can't sing.

[Rebirth flame]

i believe that it doesn't matter how well you sing. i think that he might actually mean when he says, "to sing is to pray twice" is that to use a gift that God gave you to sincerely praise and worship Him, whether it be singing, writing, artwork, etc. that you are doubly-praying to our Lord by offering up something He gave you.

i've heard it said before that "God gave it to ya, now give it back" in relation to peoples singing voices. He doesn't care how bad a singer you are so long as you use what little singing ability you may have to truly worship Him in His Glory!

[immaculata]

I've never known of a choir that practices in the sanctuary before Mass.. We warm up back in the cry room twenty minutes before Mass, but we're absolutely silent once we get into the nave.