The one who sings prays twice - St Augustine

CIY Day 157 - Justified
“The one who sings prays twice”- Saint Augustine.

Two or three years ago my wife and I got into the habit of having Alexa play gospel music in the backround while Chrome randomly display pictures chronicling our life together, in the big screen- it has over 8,000 pictures going as far back as to when we were kids.





Sometime ago, one of our twin granddaughters ask me why we had the gospel music playing in the background all the time, and also when we were in the car. I immediately blurted out: "because when we are singing we are also praying" - I had not heard this until today, so I don't know why I said it, but now I feel justified.No wonder Father Tomassi's first Mass at Holy Redeemer right after his ordination the day before, felt so special. He sang the entire Mass!

Where do you find Catholic Singers? Was the first question that came up - All the Christmas songs we ever heard were sung by popular musicians and mostly not even Christian.

In no time we found John Michael Talbot - came up during the Jesus Freaks era, and Andrew Goldstein who is much younger -I wrote a review when we first met Andrew, in part reads "Needless to say, we were double blessed: Attended a beautiful service and were treated to an outstanding free service. We just had to get Andrew's by donation CD. Life is good! If you want to hear Andrew's music so we can compare notes, perhaps is best to contact him at the Parish."







Now we have Christian gospel music Playlists for every mood - we will also listen Christian music with other artists like Elvis Presley, Alan Jackson, Bill Gaither, The Isaac's and so on.  Some Catholics object to gospel music by non-Catholics saying something like "there are a few groups that you should be aware of that do sing songs that are not in line with our faith - Hillsong being one of them. I came from a protestant background and I look up what their beliefs are before I let me kids listen to the music."  On the other hand, I love Elvis Presley's rendition of gospel music, including that of other artists who may not be Catholic, including Hilsong.I try to listen to the message, as opposed to the messenger - consistent with CCC 1158 "The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate. Hence "religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services," in conformity with the Church's norms, "the voices of the faithful may be heard." But "the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources.""

Saint Augustine's Commentaries to the Psalms, Psalm 72,: “Whoever sings a praise, not only praises, but only praises with gladness. He that sings praise, not only sings, but also loves him of whom he sings. In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing; in singing, the affection of one loving.”

I'm amazed at the quality of the Christian music genre and wonder why, with so much talent, local radio station during the Christmas Season resort to mainstream singers. 

 Sacred music imparts spiritual truth to one's mind, heart, and soul. It displays a dimension of meaning and feeling that mere words cannot. Music makes prayer more pleasing, promotes a sense of congregational unity, and confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. Three criteria need to be present for song and music to fulfil their potential: “beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration” (CCC 1157