Lent 3

Come To The Water

If you knew of a drink that would bring you hope, joy, heal all your ills, give you wisdom, make you strong, alive, and renewed each time you drank it, had no calories, and here’s the best part - was free - wouldn’t you run to the store this very moment to find this drink?

As babies, it is said that our bodies are made up of about 75% water, as adults, about 60%. The human brain is mostly water and the world is, too. If we exercise, we must replenish our bodies with it. Most vacations we take center around it. The bulk of the population in our country lives near a coast line. It seems that we are always searching to quench our dryness - to satisfy a thirst. But, like a sieve, our earthly body is a never-full, never-satisfied vessel. No matter how much we drink, we can never get enough liquid to satiate our thirst. Earthly water just doesn’t fill us up!

God invites us to the well-spring of eternal life each week. He beckons, pleads and offers us Living Water through His Word, His Body and His Blood. How can we ignore the invitation? The lyrics to Marsha Stevens’ song, sung at the 12:00 Noon Mass on Sunday, "For Those Tears I Died," inspire thought: “Come to the water, stand by my side. I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied. I felt every tear drop when in darkness you cried, and I strove to remind you that for those tears I died!”

Lent 2

Richard Proulx, Composer (1937-2010)

Lent brings with it a time of renewal and change. And so it is also true with the music at our liturgies during this time. We change from a style of song that is celebratory in nature to music that is somewhat pensive, meditative, and perhaps more contemplative. The imagery portrayed in the lyrics of our song invokes thought, sacrifice, and ultimately, prayer. The Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Eucharistic Acclamation, Great Amen, and the Litany at the Breaking of the Bread, also change during this season of reflection and renewal. During Lent we sing Mass parts from “A Community Mass” by Richard Proulx. This Mass was written in the early years following Vatican II. Its popularity has stood the test of time, and is a staple in many parishes. I had the opportunity to sing under the direction of Richard Proulx in the early 1990‟s when he was a guest conductor for the Diocesan Choir's annual Hymnfest at Sacred Heart Church in Shadyside. Mr. Proulx "pulled no punches‟ with our choir, as he demanded perfection from our tempos, our tone, and even our breathing Sadly, Richard Proulx passed away in 2010, but leaves behind a legacy of over 300 compositions. His music is both traditional and timeless.

Ordinary Time 9

“I don’t feel I have a good enough voice to sing in church.”

This is a comment I hear quite often, and every time I hear it I cringe. There is nothing more beautiful than the sound of an entire congregation singing from the bottom of their hearts and the top of their lungs! No matter what kind of voice you have, it is always a voice the Lord wants to hear. From where I sit at the organ, it is sometimes difficult for me to hear resounding music coming from the mouths of our congregation, and I must admit, I long for more. On this last weekend of Ordinary Time, we will sing the “Alleluia” as the Gospel Acclamation once more before moving on to the acclamations of Lent. With this in mind, I decided to print a "challenge" of sorts in this blog post. I challenge everyone in attendance at Mass this weekend to sing the Gospel Acclamation, (Alleluia), the Holy Holy and the Opening and Closing Hymns like you’ve never sung them before - that is, with brave gusto! These parts of the Mass are typically sung strongly and with conviction. Below are some quotes I found that give you reason to sing with your whole heart.

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

- Maya Angelou

“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway!”

- Emory Austin

“Sing loudly in church with your head held high - especially if it embarrasses your children.”

- Ginny Ambrose