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Category Archives: Sing to the Lord
Music In The Rite of Marriage: SttL 219-224
Nine numbered sections in Sing To The Lord detail the thoughts and directives of the US bishops on liturgical music for weddings. Let’s look at the last six of these and the advice given by the US bishops. Paragraph 219 advises dioceses … Continue reading
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Music In The Rite of Marriage: SttL 216-218
Nine numbered sections in Sing To The Lord detail the thoughts and directives of the US bishops on liturgical music for weddings. As a pastoral musician I can tell you planning with engaged couples is a significant component of our service to the … Continue reading
Ministers of Liturgical Music, Directors: SttL 45-47
The last of the music ministries discussed in the US Bishops’ 2007 document Sing to the Lord: the director. This person is defined first as a collaborator: A professional director of music ministries, or music director … (works) with the bishop or … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, Instrumentalists: SttL 41-44
Early in their document, Sing to the Lord, the US bishops review the various ministerial roles within liturgical music. Writing of any instrumentalists, the bishops remind us of their purpose with regard to the song of the assembly: “lead and sustain … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Cantor: SttL 37-40
The third music ministry examined by the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord is the cantor. Thanks to my consistent experiences in getting small choirs recruited to serve at multiple Masses, I’ve only occasionally worked with cantors. Official church … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Psalmist: SttL 34-36
Paragraphs 28 through 47 of the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord reviews the various ministries within liturgical music. A few days ago, we looked at the role of the choir (SttL 28-33). Today, we consider the psalmist (34-36) as a … Continue reading
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Ministers of Liturgical Music, The Choir: SttL 28-33
Paragraphs 28 through 47 of the document Sing to the Lord reviews the various ministerial roles within liturgical music. First up is the Choir. The US bishops start off with an echo the importance given in SC 114 to the balance between … Continue reading
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The Gathered Liturgical Assembly: SttL 24-27
Section II (The Church at Prayer) treats the various components of God’s people and their liturgical and music ministers. Numbered sections 24-27 address “the Gathered Liturgical Assembly.” Commentators have noted that in the Vatican II Constitution on the Church, the council … Continue reading
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Who Prepares Music For Worship? SttL 119-121
Ten years ago, the US Bishops released a much-anticipated document on church music, Sing to the Lord (SttL). One of the topics they addressed was the preparation of music for liturgy. Who does this? It’s a question addressed in numbered sections 119 … Continue reading
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Care in the Choice of Music: SttL 122-125
Paragraphs 122 through 125 of the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord offers some good advice for those preparing the music at liturgy. It should go without saying that choosing music is a serious matter and it likely doesn’t … Continue reading
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Preparing Music for Liturgy: SttL Outline
Section IV of the US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord treats the matter of “Preparing Music For Catholic Worship.” This is a vitally important topic, and our shepherds devote nearly 3,000 words to it–a bit more than one-tenth of … Continue reading
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SttL on Silence
Silence: the absence of sound? Or something more? The USCCB document Sing to the Lord has a lot to say about silence. In my workshop on the theology of choir and assembly at the recent Loras College Liturgical Music Conference, … Continue reading
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SttL on the Formation of Music Ministers
The US Bishops’ document Sing to the Lord writes of the need to form music ministers. It should go without saying that music directors and liturgists should have a thorough grounding in music and liturgy. Or at the very least, … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, Ministry, Sing to the Lord
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SttL on Lay Ministry
Can and do lay people exercise authentic ministry in the Catholic Church? Years ago, the answer to this seemed to be a no-brainer. In some quarters, and in recent years, a certain retrenchment has attempted to swing the Church back … Continue reading
Posted in Liturgy, Ministry, Sing to the Lord
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Progressive Solemnity II: Music Within Liturgy
In section 115, the USCCB document Sing to the Lord lays down the case for progressive solemnity within the celebration of any liturgy. Lest there be any doubt about the applicability of the principle, know that it is derived from … Continue reading
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Catholic Sensibility 